March 8 Opinion page: Guest column by Michael Coleman

Michael Coleman
is the candidate for president on the iUnity for IUSA ticket. 

As the time for IUSA elections rapidly approaches, it is necessary to address initiatives of the past and present.

One initiative in particular — meal points in the Union — existed about four years ago, but then the relationship between Residential Programs and Services and the Union crumbled.

I was part of the Student Voice Project that analyzed various issues on campus.

 In 2007, one of these initiatives was meal points in the Union, however, little was accomplished. The Union Plus Plan was installed as a substitution, allowing students to receive a 5 percent discount off meals in the Union.

Former Union Board president Andrew Dahlen went to the necessary organizations to introduce the idea for a meal point plan in the Union.

Dahlen and the rest of Union Board must receive credit for the campaign to have I-Bucks in the Union.

Unfortunately, when the proposal was brought to the Residence Halls Association, the final vote was not in support of I-Bucks in the Union. Committees and other efforts gathered to review the issue but RHA ultimately had the final decision. RHA works hand-in-hand with RPS, representing the students in residence halls.

After much analysis, I-Bucks in the Union would charge students more for their meal plans because RPS would lose capital. Freshmen are already confined to having the average meal plan, as well as required to live in the residence halls.

RHA simply felt that this expense should not be a burden on them or other students that use on-campus residential facilities. Instead of receiving a discount as they do in RPS dining areas, everything would be based off dollar value.

As the current RHA vice president of Internal Affairs and presidential candidate for iUnity, the strong relationship I have with the residential organizations is crucial. I have full understanding of the decision to discard the proposition of I-Bucks in the Union.

If the discussion for meal points in the Union is brought to attention throughout the IUSA campaign, I hope that it is not stemmed from the pressure of others.

The iUnity ticket embodies the experience and dedication that is crucial to accomplishing goals within IUSA. Rather than focusing on failed initiatives, we are looking to the future and how we can relay to the students that we are the best choice for the next IUSA term.

We are the ticket that can accurately describe what our campus has to offer, such as the Union Plus Plan, rather than implementing plans to charge students more than necessary.


E-mail: mc32@indiana.edu