TSC food policy now more student-friendly
The Polynesian Student Union held a luau catered by the Pauni family, of “Extreme Makeover” fame, at the Taggart Student Center last Saturday. With the old TSC policy, the Paunis would not have been able to cater the event.
According to the former policy, student groups are required to use USU Catering Services when events are held in the TSC. However, a new food policy was recently passed, changing this rule.
The new policy was passed by the TSC Policy Board in February. The Board is comprised of members of ASUSU, faculty, administration and alumni. They are responsible to update and review the policies in the TSC.
The new policy will officially take effect July 1. It will allow student groups to use off-campus caterers for events held in the TSC or on the TSC Patio.
The new policy was first considered when Tabitha Perkins, ASUSU programming vice president and chair of the TSC Policy Board, found that students were moving events from the TSC to get lower prices.
In an attempt to bring the students back to the TSC, the Policy Board approved the revisions.
“The Taggart Student Center is just that, a student center. We wanted to make sure it was as student-friendly as possible,” said Shaun Kjar, ASUSU campus diversity and organizations vice president.
Perkins explained that the new policy really does two things. First, it gives permission to groups that bring in pizza and other fast food for group events in the TSC to do so. Second, for any large event or banquet, it ensures that the students are getting the best deal.
With the new policy, students will be able to decide if they want to use USU Food Services or if they want to use outside catering.
Groups will need to get approval from USU Food Services to use outside catering. Any food purchase more than $150 will require a quote to Food Services. These rules are in place so that USU Food Services can try to stay competitive.
The new policy is the effect of students complaining and talking to ASUSU about changing the policy.
Perkins said, “This is a great example of how students working with the administration can make things happen.”
-katreeves@cc.usu.edu