Dining with the Dean

Pieces of chocolate cake sat in front of about 120 students and staff Thursday during a luncheon in the Georgian Room of the Indiana Memorial Union with Dean of Students Dick McKaig.\nAn invitation was sent to a pool of random freshmen a few weeks ago asking them to attend a lunch with McKaig and other faculty members, McKaig said. The description was discreet, but a free lunch buffet was offered and a friend could be invited.\n“I have a lot of contact with students, but this is a chance to have a very random draw,” McKaig said. “It provides us with interaction with students we might not usually encounter.” \nA group of 60 to 80 students are invited to these luncheons four times a year, he said. Thursday’s lunch centered on freshmen and their first-year experiences. About seven students sat at each table with an administrator from campus. The administrators came from a variety of campus offices.\n“I expected a lot less people and kind of a scary experience with the Dean I’d never met before,” said freshman Zach Lesh. “It was a big group of people talking not just to the Dean, but another counselor or administrative person. It was good table conversation, and I liked the food, especially the chocolate cake.”\nAt each table, administrators were given a list of questions to discuss, such as students’ views on voting, what they thought of the services provided at IU, if they had complaints, why they chose IU and what they would do if they were given the chance to be dean for the day. Many questions prompted other discussions such as the smoking ban, bus services and the idea of using meal points at the IMU.\n“We focus a lot on what it’s been like during their first months on campus and what they expect from us on welcoming next year’s freshman class,” McKaig said. “It’s been very positive. There’s always somebody that I’ve talked to before. Once, when my daughter was here, a boy she was dating was chosen for lunch. They appreciate to be listened to and have their views known.”\nFreshman Marissa Posteraro said she enjoyed the atmosphere of the lunch. \n“I just expected people to talk and for us to eat,” she said. “I didn’t think it would be one on one in a group. It was nice to meet new people. If there’s a lot of people who have the same views, hopefully things will get changed.”\nStudents enjoyed the food catered by the IMU, but the main purpose of the luncheon was for the University to receive feedback from the students.\n“It really serves us better than the students. It introduces them to people who are involved in the University,” McKaig said. “There are some students who have specific issues that they will talk with us about or follow up on. Primarily they are doing a service to the institution.”