On Wednesday evening, Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) had its first meeting since Spring Break. The meeting opened with a discussion of instituting guest meals at the dining halls. At-Large Representative Tess Kramer '13 initiated the dialogue, stating that the idea was proposed to her by friends.
"After friends brought it up, I talked to a lot of students to get opinions," she said. "Everyone agreed it would be a great idea."
Under the proposed system, students would receive a number of "guest meals" every semester, to be used in case they had family or friends visiting, or perhaps forgot to bring their OneCard to a meal.
While students are currently able to pay for visitor's meals using Polar Points, Kramer suggested that these funds are limited.
"If a student has multiple guests for multiple meals, it can really add up," she said. "It's a heavy burden on students."
After reviewing Bowdoin's peer colleges, the Facilities Committee concluded that only 5 of 22 peer institutions have no guest meal options. Meal plans at many schools include guest meal plans, with guest meal numbers ranging from 2 to 25 meals per semester. Some schools, such as Middlebury, even allow guests to dine for free.
Ultimately, the decision to enact a dining plan for student guests would be left to Dining Service.
"We are simply suggesting that Dining Service explores the idea," Kramer said. "From there they can consider the monetary costs and decide whether or not it is worth it."
The BSG also discussed the results of a survey conducted by the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) regarding the first year book. In previous years, incoming first years have been required to read a book over the summer, which is then discussed in small groups during Orientation. However, the program was canceled for the Class of 2014 due to lack of interest.
Vice President for Student Affairs Chanwoong Baek '12 claimed that although a majority of faculty members and students were opposed to the program, it was still valuable.
"Beyond touching on academic ideas, it is a way that brings the whole class together," said Baek. "We think that having this discussion during the Orientation period is important because it gives students something to talk about and reflect on, no matter where they are from."
Following Baek's lead, the SAC proposed that the control of the first-year book be transferred from the Committee on Governance and Faculty Affairs to the Orientation Committee, which would allow for greater planning and oversight. The SAC also proposed creating a panel of faculty members to moderate discussion regarding the book during Orientation. Following the discussion with faculty members, students would then have a chance to discuss the reading in a smaller group setting under the direction of an upper-class student or faculty member.
While the SAC strongly supported reviving the first year book program, BSG did not vote on the matter.