SAU offers open mics for open minds

by: jessie virgil
Staff Writer

There are issues and policies on campus that not every student likes.  It could be check-ins, parking, or even problems with the food being served in the cafeteria.  While many students complain in the privacy of their own rooms, others took the chance two weeks ago to voice their opinions to the powers at be.

Open Mics were held three nights in a row to discuss students’ thoughts and concerns hoping they could make a change.  Robert Christopher, director of security, Matt Hansen, director of residence life, Tim Phillips, dean of students and Mike Roderer, Cosgrove/snack bar manager each took their own separate occasion to answer every question students had to offer.

 “I’m not trying to treat them [students] like children,” Christopher said, after the longest and most heated topic began. 

The check-in policy is a question that is raised a lot amongst the residents of St. Ambrose.  Students felt sometimes that they were being treated like children because they are, by rule, to check-in all guests at 7 P.M. and check-out no later than 2 A.M. (this applies only to traditional housing).  Other parts of the policy that concern students are when they have to check-out guests as they leave, 7 P.M. is too early to begin check-ins, and feel they are old enough to have any guest stay overnight.

“The check-out policy instills responsibility in the host,” Hansen said.  “It’s needed so guests don’t go wandering through the building unattended.”

The policy states that a host is responsible for their guest at all-times.  So if a guest breaks a policy, the host is also held responsible.  As for the 7 P.M. check-in time, Hansen states it is a compromise that was put into place when Cosgrove and Rohlman Hall were made co-ed buildings and many parents thought it couldn’t keep instilling a Catholic environment.  As for co-ed overnight policy, there seems to be little thought on changing it to preferred check-in for the entire campus.

“The overnight guest policy is a privilege, and the students need to earn it,” Hansen said.

Christopher said these rules are set in for the safety of residents.  However, students believe they are smart and mature enough to deal with the responsibility.  One issue, which was brought up in lure of overnight guests, was break-ins to residence halls.  A few students at the open mic felt that if people were breaking-in, they could have overnight guests, and that it was illogical to keep that policy in place.

“Most break-ins do not occur because people want to sneak others in,” Christopher said.  “From my experience it’s usually because people find it more convenient for themselves and they want to sneak something besides people in.”

Roederer hand his hands full two nights earlier with a crowd consisting mainly of SGA and CAB representatives.  Both organizations were interested in three important things; variety, prices, and menus. 

With so many new reoccurring items in the cafeteria, such as; hamburgers, french fries, pizza and the pasta bar; students are concerned there is a lack of healthy options.

“According to surveys, more nutritious items are disliked by the masses,” Roderer said.  “However, the main line contains healthier foods and we’ve also changed our cooking habits such as using healthier oils and butters.”

Prices were raised in the snack bar this year, which is due mainly to different concepts and new foods available.  Another problem, which have raised prices, is stealing.

“There has been a drop in prices for some items this year though,” Roederer said.  “Milk was about $2.19 last year for a quart and now it’s down to $1.55.”

Roederer finds that his most important goal is to make sure students are happy.  The main concerns he shared are variety in food items and the dish belt operations.

The new dish belt is 12 feet long, which dropped significantly from the old dish belt, which was just over 25 feet.  This shorter belt makes it more difficult for dishwashers to maintain a heavy flow of traffic during rush periods. 

He has tried to place a new policy in which students are responsible for cleaning off all the food and waste from their tray before placing it in on the belt, however, he is having a challenge to get students to even clean their stuff at their tables.

“Kids believe since they pay for the food that they don’t have to clean it up,” said Roederer.  “If you go into any restaurant besides a sit down one, you don’t get that kind of service.”

With many trials and tribulations, the students got one thing they wanted, to be heard.  However Christopher and Roederer both feel that if students have a problem, they shouldn’t wait until an Open Mic event to express their concern.

“If there’s a problem let me know,” Roderer said.  “I’m in the café, the phonebook, and even on Facebook.”