The Ithaca College Student Governance Council (SGC) met Jan. 29 to hear from Jeffery Golden, associate vice president of Auxiliary Services, hold a confirmation for the elections committee and have an orientation for new and returning SGC members for Spring 2024.
Te-Wen Lo, a professor in the Department of Biology at the college, also attended the meeting to seek the board’s help to spread the word about getting students to help with the college’s re-accreditation process. There are many boards within the re-accreditation process analyzing how students feel about aspects of student life career assistance. Lo said student feedback is highly important to this process.
“‘Accredited’ means that an external organization says, ‘This college meets a certain set of standards,’” Lo said. “This is a campus-wide effort, where [we] are seeking students to be a part of these groups”
The SGC discussed ideas on how to spread the word about student involvement in the re-accreditation process through means like flyers, poster boards and LED screens.
Golden presented an outline of what the Office of Auxiliary Services does and some aspects the student body may be unaware of, specifically about the warehouse. Auxiliary Services covers any external force at the college, including dining halls, retail, event services, housing, mail, warehouse and graphic design.
“In theory, you brush up against us in some way every day,” Golden said.
At the start of the Fall 2023 semester, the college implemented a meal exchange system at several dining locations across campus. Using the application Grubhub, a student can place an order using a meal swipe from their meal plan. A few locations on campus, like Ithaca Bakery and Chick-N-Bap, do not have this option and still only possess the ability to order using Bomber Bucks or actual currency.
Golden said the goal of the meal swipes ultimately is to help with crowding in Campus Center during lunch hours and to encourage students to go to varying locations for food around the college.
“I don’t think it’s weird for me to say the goal of some of these businesses is to make money,” Golden said. “The cafes have a different expectation to make a profit. … The meal plan is something totally different”
Golden said the college’s system of creating signs and other printable items is more effective than most universities due to having the ability to make most items at the college. Auxiliary Services makes most items at the Center for Print Production at the college and frequently finds creative ways to reuse materials.
“If any of you have gotten a die-cut sticker of some shape at the store or made by your organization, that same piece is probably what made the ‘bathrooms this way’ sign,” Golden said. “We make almost everything in-house.”
Golden said that on the first day of the semester, Grubhub added a 59 cent fee to student’s exchanges and orders across campus by accident. Sophomore Ty Anderson, vice president of campus affairs, said students have faced other issues with Grubhub, including orders being canceled or not going through properly, and asked Golden if there are any alternatives to working with Grubhub.
“[There are] a lot of backend issues where tickets won’t print for people or orders [getting canceled] when the order isn’t in stock and [there are] a lot of small issues that make it hard for the retail side of things,” Anderson said. “What is our relationship with Grubhub, why, and how can we get rid of them?”
Golden said Auxiliary Services is aware of the issues with Grubhub and is not opposed to actively finding a replacement.
“Fundamentally, if right now we’re not working with Grubhub, we’re definitely working with something like it in terms of ticketing and retail management,” Golden said. “We’re thinking about it, we’re talking about it, I’m not immune [to changing applications].”
On the topic of new food being served at the college, Golden said the new eating outlet taking the Express Cafe’s place could be opening soon, but no plans have been solidified yet.
“Someone like me may suggest we may be offering cakes by the slice or cool cupcakes or other such pastries things, but that’s all hypothetical,” Golden said. “Ideally, you’ll see some stuff pop up there soon.”
Golden closed his presentation with a question about issues with mail lockers. Several SGC members said there have been concerns with some of the lockers having technical difficulties opening and packages being sent from package pick-up centers back to the Mail Center.
Golden said Auxiliary Services is dealing with these issues as they arise and there may be a potential to find another technical provider for lockers in the future.
The SGC then held a confirmation for senior Noah Kamens, club athlete senator, to the elections committee. Kamens said he is knowledgeable about elections and he would emphasize adding another voice to the elections committee.
“Last year was chaotic and largely from not having enough voices on the committee, so I would like to join in and make sure things run smoothly to the extent that I can,” Kamens said. “I have been a part of elections. … I know how to make sure people vote fairly.”
After the executive session, the SGC held a presentation for new or returning members on how policies should be conducted, how questions should be asked and different essential aspects of how SGC runs.
During senator reports, sophomore Rishabh Sen, vice president of campus affairs, said he talked with Bonnie Prunty, vice president of Student Affairs and Campus Life, about board positions that are open for students and other resources for improving student life that may need to be added.
Sen said these roles need to be filled and if there are any resources students feel are necessary they must be addressed.
“[Student Affairs is] looking for student voices for the Office of Spiritual Life,” Sen said. “Also, If [any new board members] think there are resources Ithaca College is lacking, please talk to me about this so we can help.”
