Although a resolution to support the new meal plan proposal was on its agenda, the Student Assembly decided not to discuss the new meal plan last night because it had not advertised the issues, a condition agreed upon at the Executive Committee meeting Sunday.
The meal plan resolution was sponsored by Grace Chionuma '96, Secretary John Honovich '97, President Danielle Moore '95 and Vice President Rukmini Sichitiu '95.
But because the Assembly's Executive Committee had not made enough of an effort to publicize last night's open Assembly meeting and to inform student about the new meal plan, those sponsoring the resolution removed it from the agenda.
Honovich said he sent out a BlitzMail message to about 600 first-year students and posted a BlitzMail bulletin with meal plan information. But those responsible for putting up posters and making copies of the Meal Plan Task Force available in the Collis Student Center said they did not have enough time to hold up their part of the agreement.
Last night's meeting was the last Assembly meeting of the term. For the Assembly to have a voice in the meal plan decision, it must pass a formal resolution before Thanksgiving.
Honovich said he was certain another Assembly meeting would be called this weekend to discuss and vote on the meal plan resolution. A petition was passed around at the meeting to gather signatures of members in support of another meeting. One-third of the members present are needed to call for the meeting.
Honovich said he thinks there will be enough signatures to justify another meeting.
Moore said she thinks the decision not to vote on the meal plan tonight was fair.
"I think the point about not following through on the Executive Committee's agreement was a good one," Moore said. "I had hoped that the Student Assembly would come together and make sure our voice was being heard."
Assembly Treasurer Scott Rowekamp '97 moved to suspend the Assembly's rules and bring the resolution to the floor for discussion. But the motion did not have two-thirds of the Assembly's support, so it did not pass.
Communications Committee co-chair Brandon del Pozo '96 likened the meeting to a circus and said the Assembly's not discussing the meal plan was "adding insult to injury or farce on top of farce as to how Student Assembly is viewed."
But the Assembly did unanimously pass the first three resolutions on the floor.
The first approved the budget for this weekend's Ivy Council Conference. The second supported the College's creation of an organic farm on College-owned land. The third supported the Assembly's allocation of money to temporarily cover the expenses of Thanksgiving busses to Boston and New York from campus.
At the beginning of the meeting both Moore and Dean of Student Life Holly Sateia, who is the Assembly's adviser, talked about Moore's recent decision to resign as Assembly president, effective Nov. 21.
Moore urged the Assembly to change and to show respect for, dedication to and belief in its leader, each other and the vision it sets forth.
"There is a vision for this body: production and trying to impact change on this campus," she said.
Sateia told Assembly members they need to support each other and make the Assembly a positive experience or rethink their reasons for being in the Assembly.
"If it's not going to be a positive experience, then what's the point?" she asked.
