The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Media Credit: -- Chartwells recinded its support yesterday for dining legislation proposed by Senator Elliott Kavanaugh, left. At the end of the meeting President Johns also announced official plans to cut student stipends. [Click to enlarge]

In the closing officer reports of last night's Student Government Association meeting, President Cari Johns made an unexpected announcement to the governing body.

Johns announced the intentions of the University administration to remove student stipends handed out to student leaders every year. Currently, six student leaders are granted full or partial remission on their tuition. Those positions are the presidents of the International Student Federation, SGA, the Black Student Alliance and the Student Activities Board, plus the general manager of KSLU and the editor in chief of The University News.

The announcement did not include details about potentially replacing the stipends, but, according to an e-mail sent by Vice President of Enrollment John Baworowsky, a meeting will be held on Friday to discuss the future of the stipend. The six student leaders currently in the aforementioned positions have been invited to attend the meeting.

A last-minute pull-out derailed legislation before SGA last night. The senate bill was to address student concerns with the $200 meal plan. Under the current system, students pay $200 and receive 150 flex points. The additional $50 is used for overhead and to bring improved food venues to campus. All commuter and residential students are required to purchase a meal plan.

The plan under review was passed last year to balance the overhead cost for all students. Before the change in the plan last year, residential students shouldered the entire cost of the overhead.

Commuter Senator Elliott Kavanaugh and his committee had reached an agreement with Chartwells that, for the 2006-2007 academic year, the $200 meal plan would allot student 150 flex points and five additional meals. However, a last-minute phone call informed Kavanaugh that Chartwells would not agree to this plan.

Chartwells General Manager Fred Wetzel, not present at the meeting, cited concern that students using the bonus flex system have canceled out the initial overhead charge. Both residential and commuter students have the option to add bonus flex. For $200, students receive 250 flex points.

Kavanaugh asked senators to support this legislation, showing they will stand behind their commitment.

"I think we need to pass this legislation. I want Chartwells to be here. We need to show them that, by choosing to not show up, they will not sway our vote," Arts and Sciences Senator Christine Campbell said.

More questions were raised about what is being done with the overhead charges that were to bring new venues to campus.

The legislation was tabled indefinitely to further explore options, answer questions senators had and renew discussions with Chartwells.

SGA also passed legislation to update the constitution on their Web site. The changes do not affect the content of the constitution-only the formatting of the online version. A similar piece of legislation changed the online version of the SGA bylaws.

Black Student Alliance Senator Dominique Gonzales was recognized by SGA as Senator of the Month for utilizing her listserv to contact her constituents.

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