All students will be asked to participate in a referendum that could have the power to reduce the proposed $800 required non-refundable meal plan, to cut dining options or even to eliminate Dartmouth Dining Services completely.
The Student Assembly last night unanimously voted to proceed with the referendum, and Assembly leaders said College Treasurer Lyn Hutton is likely to follow through on whatever option is most popular with students.
The referendum asks students to choose between the following three options: "maintain current levels of services, with some moderate reductions of cost," "cut backs and reduction of services" with a lower mandatory DBA or the "elimination of residential dining at Dartmouth."
"We have every reason to believe [the administration] will do what we say," said Case Dorkey '99, a member of the Trustee Committee on Finance. Dorkey is also the intern to DDS and a member of the Assembly.
In an e-mail message sent to The Dartmouth, Hutton said, "The administration will try to be responsive to the majority will of the student body as expressed by the survey/referendum."
The resolution states "the Office of the Vice President and Treasurer [of the College] has agreed that a student vote in regard to the proposed changes in the meal plan would be of benefit in determining a reasonable and fiscally responsible solution to the current financial situation of DDS."
The current draft of the referendum includes a survey gauging attitudes toward DDS and its importance to students. The referendum asks students to indicate the dollar amount they think is reasonable for a minimum dining fee and for meal option costs.
The referendum was drawn up by the student members of the Trustee Committee on Finance in conjunction with members of the Student Assembly. Members of those groups met with Hutton on Sunday morning to discuss student concerns about the proposed mandatory $800 declining balance account.
Dorkey said Hutton "okayed this approach" of sending a student referendum to aid the administration in making an "informed decision about the future of DDS."
The Assembly, which will be handling the distribution of the referendum through their Communications Committee, hopes to solidify the final wording by Sunday night.
"I am really impressed that Lyn Hutton backs this," Dorkey said. "I think [the Assembly] should, too."
The resolution and draft of the referendum were sponsored by Dorkey, Dave Parker '00, Paul Holzer '00, Rachel Bogardus '98, Dominic Lavalle '99 and Josh Green '00.
