By MARISSA CEVALLOS What's a Difficult Time, Making the Best

By MARISSA CEVALLOS When more than 300 Caltech students and faculty crammed into Baxter lecture hall last week, the tension between students and ad ministration could be felt through out the overpacked room. Howev er, instead of creating problems, the students created something the administration happily accepted- solutions. Students from the Interhouse Committee (mC) and the audi ence focused their questions and suggestions on the 7-day board proposal. Brandy Cossairt, senior and Dabney president, pointed out that "prices in Chandler are 15 40% lower than local competitors. Why not increase prices there?" Andre Mallie <accent marks on both e's>, senior director of busi ness enterprises, fielded the 7-day board questions. "Chandler sup a broader aspect of the com- students. cannot raise or we will lose business." Arturo and out- going Ricketts also PU1'sut~d the idea meal but revealed tration's exasperation when he asked "Is there any openness to altemative plans without extend ed meals?" Andre answered, "We have to max out everywhere to return the Halfakimbo for progress: Some maybe a mole, voices his concerns at last Wednesday's town hall meeting as a thrilled crowd 1.2 million, and all other propos looks at whatever he's looking at. als so far have been evaluated and fall short." whole, we can't back off. Within get a lot of input from students." Marshak also believes that the what's a difficult time, making the The administration appeared the budget we have now, we can The most popular solution, and worried about unforeseen con administration will take the com best decisions we can, and I'm talk and talk, but we need to imple with the most receptive adminis mittee seriously. glad to hear decisions that you sequences of a 7-day board pro ment and then try to re-evaluate as tration response, came from Dima gram. When asked by RJ Krom if "I think that everyone at.this don't like. The dollar crisis won't we go through, so long as the bot Kamalov. point will be pleased if we can change, and we need to do some the administration had considered tom line remains the same." "So the net increase in profits that "some students want to move resolve this issue," said Marshak. thing about that." Subsequent questions were needs to be $150,000. There are "We still have the same financial Other topics discussed included off-campus," and clarified by Matt aimed at targeting the problem about 1,000 undergraduates. Ifwe Krogstad that "if you increase the goals, we just have to find some Matt Krogstad's concern over -dining services needs to make all pay $50 per student per term, other way to meet them." when the South Houses will be prices of housing...there will be $150,000 profit--and coming up then there would be no need for vacancies in student housing," initiation of the Task Force completely renovated. Bonnie with alternate solutions. Surpris 7-day board. Comment?" also addresses an overarching Khang-Keating replied that the Marshak conceded that it would ingly, the suggestions prompted After a long, prolonged ap be "the death of Caltech as we concern of many of the students houses wouldn't be ready until the administrative attitude to shift plause, Mallie seemed recept:lVe over the administration's unilater Dec IS-January 2. know it." through the course of the meet to the idea. Erica O'Neil, Assistant Vice al decision-making. Asked Rocky Students claimed that parlGng ing. "Seems yes, but we need to Velazquez at the town hall meet was yet another issue they were President for Student Sarah Peek suggested forming de~;igrlate a to added, "We hope you will choose ing, "Why wasn't time take to not consulted about. John Shen student committees to review the that. consult students? In my opinion, asked, "In 2005, fees to remain on campus. You should way money is divided among un Such a committee, in was be able to live where you want, this was told to the IHC rather than were implemented the whole dergraduate life. formed in less than 48 hours after we don't want to dictate where having consulted with them." Caltech community. Was under "You want to raise money from the meeting. Margo Marshak in Though the main tension was grad and grad feedback solicited you will live. What we want to do 7-day board. Would it be possible troduced the Task Force Commit is be fiscally responsible. We also between students and administra for this?" to make a list of where students tee to review alternatives to the 7 tion, it was clear that the stress Dean Currie answered, "This want to be responsive to overall spend money, propose raises, give day board plan by February 10. institute problems, right now." is wearing down cooperation be was my biggest blunder." to IHC or other student commit "I thought that we really have Kim Poppendorf, Lloyd senior, tween administrative members Students also addressed the tee, and have students vote for very little time to come to some themselves. When Margo Mar quality offuture Caltech students. pursued the same idea as Arturo. what raises they want?" better solution, and so I thought "What is the potential to modify shak was asked if she'd com Said Meng-Meng " ...you've Sarah's suggestion was met if we got a lot of good minds to proposed changes to the budget plained about the cuts, she replied tried to argue that we're cheaper with applause from the audience, gether, people who have already despite the figures having already with a laugh, "My boss tells me I than peer institutions. What I'm and more willingness from the ad been thinking about the problem approved by trustees, and sent to have not been a team player," said worried about is that people will ministration. and are concerned- I mean the state? Are students locked into 7 Margo Marshak, to the applause choose to go to other places." Margo Marshak, vice president faculty, staff, and students-that day board and paying for health of the students. Thanks to Elizabeth and of Student Affairs and moderator we'd have a better chance to come "My job is to advocate for all Hyungmin Park for insurance?" of the town hall meeting, LV~'UV'~' to a resolution to meet all of our Dean Currie answered, "We of you, but on other side, there's written coverage, and Evan Mur "We'd need to find a viable way to needs," said Margo Marshak in an need to solve the deficit, so as a Caltech reality, and I need every phy for audio/visual coverage. Cillry out this proposal that would interview,. one of you to help us get through 2 THE CALIFORNIA TECH EPISTLED.. OFF JANUARY 30,2006 By BILL GIRDNER To Whom It May Concern at in front of the old gym, Now, as the size of the south field, thus the within the athletic facilities to open field. Because a rational in Caltech: you know, the north field has been conclusion that two thirds of open wards restriction and exclusion. quiry would draw from the stu enclosed and cut off. Not justfrom field on campus has been cut off. Because ofthe closure ofthe north dents - who would overwhelming I am contributing my $2,500 - a use by members of the communi In addition to the effective exclu field, which in tum causes overuse disapprove of a plan that disen modest amount compared to some ty, but also from students, faculty, sion of women, there are a number of the south field and causes the franchised all but a very few - and - under protest. The problem, and alumni and associates like me. of additional negative effects that south field to be reserved much of from the faculty, who also use the the protest, have to do with the Use of the north field is now flow from the closure of the field. the time, many students began to athletic facilities extensively. A changes in the athletic facilities limited to members of the baseball One is, in broad terms, that use the small space behind the goal survey of either group would, I and, in particular, with the loss of team. The baseball team does not the benefit of the many has been post at the west end ofthe field (the would bet my contribution, come open field at Caltech. have women players and plays in traded for the benefit of the few. east end includes a rubberized sur up with a big "no" on the issue of I have lived in the area around an all-male league, which is not In the course of a week, hundreds face that prevents its use for field taking away the north field. In a Caltech for a long time. Roughly unusual for a college men's base of students and others would use sports). That small space was used certainly unscientific survey along twenty five years ago, both the ball team. The result is that, within the north field to run, play ultimate on week nights for pick-up soccer those lines, the folks at the front south and north field at Caltech the larger trend ofrestricting use of frisbee and soccer. The benefit of games by members of intramural desk of the old gym told me that were open, and people from the the fields and excluding hundreds those hundreds has been traded teams and for practice sessions by there are many, including students, community could use the track and of students and members of the for the benefit of, based on last the all-women frisbee team.

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