[1163] in UA Senate
Re: Bill for Monday
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Richard Dahan)
Mon Mar 7 18:19:30 2011
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTin561SAnAMZ6aOomXhX=kg7wysP8zb2Nns9+wKg@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 18:19:26 -0500
From: Richard Dahan <rdahan@MIT.EDU>
To: Shuang Chen <shuang61@mit.edu>
Cc: Vrajesh Modi <vrajesh@mit.edu>, Tim Jenks <tjenks@mit.edu>,
Allan Miramonti <allanm@mit.edu>, willst <willst@mit.edu>,
ua-senate <ua-senate@mit.edu>
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Hey Senate,
In order to expedite the discussion tonight, I've compiled a list of
arguments for and against passing this bill. Though I've tried to present
the full picture by including all of the arguments that I've been told, I've
also included my own personal commentary on each argument. It's up to you to
take these arguments into account and reach your own position. I personally
think that the single positive argument by far outweighs all of the negative
arguments.
See you soon.
- Richard
*For the Bill*
*(1) Students overwhelmingly support this bill*. I've asked numerous
students (~45) how they feel about this measure. The proportion in favor was
similar to Shuang's responses: ~70-80% in favor. However, it should be noted
that virtually all of those not in favor really just didn't care, whereas
the majority of those in favor were extremely excited about it.
*Against the Bill*
*(2) This costs too much $!* $1,200 is a lot of money, but the UA can
definitely afford it (it would be different if this was $12,000). In my
opinion, this argument is only valid if someone can figure out a use for
this money that will benefit students more than Stata plugs. Once that
happens, I would gladly retract this bill, but until then, Senate should
realize that it has a good amount of money at its disposal. And that money
is meant to help students, not to go into the UA reserve.
*(3) We shouldn't pay more money for this than previous similar projects*.
This argument is half valid. On the one hand, the half that is valid is that
previous UA officers (especially Vrajesh, among others) did an amazing job
of negotiating with CAC to pay an extremely low portion of projects, and
passing this bill will somewhat offset that precedent. On the other hand,
the half that isn't valid is that I highly, highly doubt that CAC will pay
more than 50% of this particular project (in fact, originally they were
hesitant to pay anything).
*(4) More Outlets Will Enable Table Hogging*. This probably will happen, but
it will be far outweighed by the reduction of plug hogging. While it is true
that tables can fill up, it is a rarer occurrence and only happens during
the peak lunch hour. Conversely, simultaneous usage of all the plugs happens
much more often. Table hogging might increase, but the difference between
table demand and table supply is much lower than the difference between plug
demand and plug supply. As someone who often eats in Stata, those are just
my observations.
*(5) The UA shouldn't pay for capital improvements to campus*. This argument
doesn't make sense for several reasons. Let's disregard the fact that the UA
has historically paid for several such campus improvements. Even so, it is
the job of the UA to improve student's experiences, and necessary
improvements (which I believe that Stata plug are) help students by
definition.
That point aside, some might contend that because the UA doesn't have
infinite money, we should only fund things that have the greatest impact.
Well, given that such an improvement will benefit both us and future
generations of MIT students, I think Stata plugs qualify. In short, we
should of course try to get the administration to pay for such improvements
when we can, but if that is impossible, there's no reason not to fund
capital improvements.
On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 at 10:35 PM, Shuang Chen <shuang61@mit.edu> wrote:
> Out of the ten constituents who replied to me when I asked for opinions
> concerning this, three of them said It's a bad idea. Cited reasons include
> "it's a great area for peopel to eat lunch, putting outlets there would just
> enable table hogging" and "there are plenty of outlets there, I never have
> an issue" and "$1200 is way too much for outlets. Don't waste money." The
> other seven were excited and replied YES in caps.
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 at 10:28 PM, Vrajesh Modi <vrajesh@mit.edu> wrote:
>
>> Our contribution to each of the two student center outlet projects (5th
>> floor last year, 4th floor this year) was $500.
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 at 10:23 PM, Tim Jenks <tjenks@mit.edu> wrote
>>
>>> I like this too. Quick question though, how does this compare to the
>>> cost of the outlets that went in the student center? (like in dollars per
>>> outlet?)
>>>
>>> --Tim
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Mar 5, 2011 at 8:13 PM, Allan Miramonti <allanm@mit.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm gonna say I like what this bill does. Stata really needs more
>>>> plugs. It is sad that it costs this much, but the lack of plugs in Stata is
>>>> so frustrating its worth it.
>>>>
>>>> woo
>>>>
>>>> -Al
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 5:40 PM, William Steadman <willst@mit.edu>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Richard Dahan and I are submitting the attached bill to senate on
>>>>> Monday.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tell us if there things you want changed.
>>>>>
>>>>> The bill hopefully is self-explanatory enough.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ----------------
>>> Tim Jenks
>>> Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
>>> MIT Class of 2013
>>> tjenks@mit.edu
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Shuang Chen
> Class of 2013
> Sloan School of Management
>
>
>
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Hey Senate,<div><br></div><div>In order to expedite the discussion tonight,=
I've compiled a list of arguments for and against passing this bill. T=
hough I've tried to present the full picture by including all of the ar=
guments that I've been told, I've also included my own personal com=
mentary on each argument. It's up to you to take these arguments into a=
ccount and reach your own position. I personally think that the single posi=
tive argument by far outweighs all of the negative arguments.</div>
<div><br></div><div>See you soon.</div><div><br></div><div>- Richard</div><=
div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" color=
=3D"#3333FF"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: large;">F=
or the Bill</span></font></b></div>
<div><br></div><div><b>(1) Students overwhelmingly support this bill</b>. I=
've asked numerous students (~45) how they feel about this measure. The=
proportion in favor was similar to Shuang's responses: ~70-80% in favo=
r. However, it should be noted that virtually all of those not in favor rea=
lly just didn't care, whereas the majority of those in favor were extre=
mely excited about it.=A0</div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" color=
=3D"#3333FF"><b><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: large;=
">Against the Bill</span></b></font></div><div><br></div><div><b>(2) This c=
osts too much $!</b>=A0$1,200 is a lot of money, but the UA can definitely =
afford it (it would be different if this was $12,000). In my opinion, this =
argument is only valid if someone can figure out a use for this money that =
will benefit students more than Stata plugs. Once that happens, I would gla=
dly retract this bill, but until then, Senate should realize that it has a =
good amount of money at its disposal. And that money is meant to help stude=
nts, not to go into the UA reserve.</div>
<div><br></div><div><b>(3) We shouldn't pay more money for this than pr=
evious similar projects</b>. This argument is half valid. On the one hand, =
the half that is valid is that previous UA officers (especially Vrajesh, am=
ong others) did an amazing job of negotiating with CAC to pay an extremely =
low portion of projects, and passing this bill will somewhat offset that pr=
ecedent. On the other hand, the half that isn't valid is that I highly,=
highly doubt that CAC will pay more than 50% of this particular project (i=
n fact, originally they were hesitant to pay anything).</div>
<div><br></div><div><b>(4) More Outlets Will Enable Table Hogging</b>. This=
probably will happen, but it will be far outweighed by the reduction of pl=
ug hogging. While it is true that tables can fill up, it is a rarer occurre=
nce and only happens during the peak lunch hour. Conversely, simultaneous u=
sage of all the plugs happens much more often. Table hogging might increase=
, but the difference between table demand and table supply is much lower th=
an the difference between plug demand and plug supply. As someone who often=
eats in Stata, those are just my observations.</div>
<div><br></div><div><b>(5) The UA shouldn't pay for capital improvement=
s to campus</b>. This argument doesn't make sense for several reasons. =
Let's disregard the fact that the UA has historically paid for several =
such campus improvements. Even so, it is the job of the UA to improve stude=
nt's experiences, and necessary improvements (which I believe that Stat=
a plug are) help students by definition.=A0</div>
<div><br></div><div>That point aside, some might contend that because the U=
A doesn't have infinite money, we should only fund things that have the=
greatest impact. Well, given that such an improvement will benefit both us=
and future generations of MIT students, I think Stata plugs qualify. In sh=
ort, we should of course try to get the administration to pay for such impr=
ovements when we can, but if that is impossible, there's no reason not =
to fund capital improvements.</div>
<div><br></div><div><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 =
at 10:35 PM, Shuang Chen <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:shuang61@m=
it.edu">shuang61@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmai=
l_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left=
:1ex;">
Out of the ten constituents who replied to me when I asked for opinions con=
cerning this, three of them said It's a bad idea. Cited reasons include=
"it's a great area for peopel to eat lunch, putting outlets there=
would just enable table hogging" and "there are plenty of outlet=
s there, I never have an issue" and "$1200 is way too much for ou=
tlets. Don't waste money." The other seven were excited and replie=
d YES in caps.=A0<div>
<div></div><div class=3D"h5"><br>
<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 at 10:28 PM, Vrajesh Mod=
i <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:vrajesh@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank=
">vrajesh@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote=
" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Our contribution to each of the two student center outlet projects (5th flo=
or last year, 4th floor this year) was $500.<div><div></div><div><br><br><d=
iv class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 at 10:23 PM, Tim Jenks <span d=
ir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:tjenks@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">tjenks@m=
it.edu</a>></span> wrote<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;border-=
left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-left:1ex">I like this too.=A0 Qui=
ck question though, how does this compare to the cost of the outlets that w=
ent in the student center? (like in dollars per outlet?)<br>
<br>--Tim<div><div></div><div><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sat, Ma=
r 5, 2011 at 8:13 PM, Allan Miramonti <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mail=
to:allanm@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">allanm@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<b=
r>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;border-=
left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-left:1ex">I'm gonna say I lik=
e what this bill does. =A0Stata really needs more plugs. =A0It is sad that =
it costs this much, but the lack of plugs in Stata is so=A0frustrating=A0it=
s worth it.<div>
<br></div><div>woo</div><div><br></div><div>
-Al<div><div></div><div><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Fri, Mar 4, 2=
011 at 5:40 PM, William Steadman <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:wi=
llst@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">willst@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;border-=
left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-left:1ex">
Richard Dahan and I are submitting the attached bill to senate on<br>
Monday.<br>
<br>
Tell us if there things you want changed.<br>
<br>
The bill hopefully is self-explanatory enough.<br>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote></div><br></div></div></div>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><br></div></div><font color=3D"#88=
8888">-- <br>----------------<br>Tim Jenks<br>Dept. of Mechanical Engineeri=
ng<br>MIT Class of 2013<br><a href=3D"mailto:tjenks@mit.edu" target=3D"_bla=
nk">tjenks@mit.edu</a><br>
<br>
</font></blockquote></div><br><div></div>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><br></div></div><font =
color=3D"#888888">-- <br>Shuang Chen<div>Class of 2013</div><div>Sloan Scho=
ol of Management</div><div><br></div><br>
</font></blockquote></div><br></div>
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