Correction Appended
The SG Senate passed a bill Sunday encouraging Housing and Dining to create unofficial package hours from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Anderson and Centennial Hall dorms.
The bill, proposed by Class of 2012 Sen. Amanda Merkwae, is intended to address what Merkwae called “one of the biggest complaints from South side students,” by supplementing the current package hours that run from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
“South side students aren’t provided with the same convenience and safety as students on North side,” Merkwae said at the meeting, because students in North side dorms and Letts Hall are able to get packages 24-hours a day.
Merkwae said she met with Michelle Smith, guest and public relations coordinator from Housing and Dining Programs, to extend official package hours. However, extending hours would require hiring more desk receptionists, for which there is no room in the budget, Merkwae said.
Class of 2010 Sen. Josh Rothman said Anderson Hall’s staffing is not an issue that the Senate should address.
“[Smith] should be hiring more people; [that’s] not the Senate’s problem,” he said.
College of Arts and Sciences Sen. Amanda Silva, said the bill would allot too much extra work to the current DRs in Anderson.
However, the bill “wouldn’t ask [DRs] to do more or to work more,” said Merkwae. It would simply allow more time for students to ask for packages from DRs.
Housing and Dining DRs must give students “time-sensitive” packages that contain medication, perishable items or money at any time, but most students are unaware of the rule, according to the bill.
During the week between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., the desk in Anderson is currently double-staffed, “so it would not be a problem if students get their packages [then] if they’re being respectful and not forming a line,” Merkwae said.
“The key point here is that ultimately the students in Anderson and Centennial are paying the same amount of money but getting less than equitable service,” said Sen. at Large Jared Alves, a co-sponsor of the bill.
You can reach this staff writer at mfowler@theeagleonline.com.
Correction: In this story, Class of 2010 Sen. Josh Rothman was misidentified as a class of 2012 senator. This version has been corrected.
