By Wendy J. Allyn

The Undergraduate Student Government Senate is officially opposing actions of Residence Hall Dining administrators who recently reduced working hours of the Lakeside and Saluki Grills.

Two resolutions concerning the grills passed at last week’s senate meeting. One opposes administrators, who the resolutions accuse of failing to execute a plan providing continuous service of both the cafeteria and the snack bars to students. The other states that not executing the plan has had a negative effect on University Housing residents and student employees of the grills.

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Both the Lakeside and Saluki Grill facilities extended services early this semester after students responded to polls conducted in the spring indicating that they wanted an alternative to the cafeteria at any time.

Some students want freshly cooked hamburgers and chicken breasts for lunch, said USG Senator Josh Valtos. A lot of students are upset because now they have to eat in the cafeteria.

Not only have hours now been restricted to between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., but some students who were employed when the grills opened at 11 a.m. lost their on-campus jobs.

USG Senator David Vingren said his biggest concern is students who have lost working hours and wages.

We’re going to try and see to it that those students can get those hours and wages back, Vingren said.

University Housing Director Edward Jones has said the hours were reduced because some students misused their meal cards at the snack bars by purchasing non-food items or items such as junk food that do not constitute a meal.

Some senators said the new hours are unfair to students because administrators never specified which items from the grills could or could not be put on meal cards.

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I understand their concern, but why didn’t they stipulate what the students could use their cards for? Senator Jemal Powell said. Instead of trying to rectify the problem, they’ve acted drastically.

Valtos said he suspects Jones was upset because students were using the cafeteria less when they had the option to eat at the grills all day. He said this may have prompted administrators to open the grills later.

Since the cafeteria deals in mass quantities of food, Valtos said it may have been more economical to limit the hours of the grills so students will have to use their meal cards in the cafeteria more often.

If they’re dealing in mass quantity, they’re going to make more money, Valtos said. It’s obvious there was an alternative motive.

Vingren said he met with Jones last week and discussed the situation briefly, but there are no specific plans to resolve the situation right now. He said Jones is concerned about the student workers and does not want to overlook them.

Jones could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Valtos said although USG does not have the power to reopen the grills during the day, the senate will oppose it and work with administrators to change the situation.

They are working with Ed Jones to help solve the problem, he said.

USG President Duane Sherman said the housing senators are handling the situation in the best possible way at this time.