OCHC declares the return of meal coupons to campus

Thursday, November 7, 1996

DORMS:

Program’s reinstatement includes a 30-cent increased valueBy
Ryan Ozimek

Daily Bruin Contributor

Meal coupons, once considered lost for at least the remainder of
the school year, will be back in resident halls starting eighth
week of this quarter.

Nimesh Narayan, On-Campus Housing Council (OCHC) chairperson,
announced the program’s revival late Tuesday night.

Narayan said that during an earlier meeting with housing
officials, Housing Director Mike Foraker and Dining Services
Manager Mary Nivens proposed reinstating the coupon program, which
included an added value to the coupons ­ $1.90 for lunch and
$2.00 for dinner.

"All residents should be happy with what we did," Narayan said.
"Now, students have a choice between both (sack lunch and coupon
programs). It’s a win-win situation for everyone."

The announcement surprised student organizations, who believed
last week that the meal coupon program would be reinstated only
after weeks of pressure and work. Even if the program were
reinstated, student officials believed, the coupons wouldn’t carry
any added value above the former $1.70 per coupon level.

Over the past few weeks, USAC’s Internal Vice President’s Office
with the support of the OCHC fought for the revival of the meal
coupon program eliminated by housing officials over the summer.

Just two weeks ago, student government volunteers set up tables
around the residence halls in order to get out the word regarding
the meal coupon program. At these tables, over 3,000 students
signed petitions to bring back the meal coupons and have their
message sent directly to the Housing department.

"I knew that something would happen by Winter quarter, but I
didn’t expect to see it happen so quickly," said Glenn Inanaga,
undergraduate government internal vice-president.

Inanaga said that the coupons’ return was an achievement not
only for dorm residents, but for UCLA students as a whole.

"I believe that student government, working with the (OCHC), has
sent a very strong message to everyone at UCLA that student
activism and awareness can make a difference in our everyday
lives," Inanaga said.

Student government officers, along with student housing and
students’ association (ASUCLA) officials agreed that the revival of
the meal coupon program is a great success for all involved.

Inanaga pointed out that both OCHC and the undergraduate student
council (USAC) contributed to the program’s return.

"We worked in conjunction with OCHC and I strongly believe that
the petitions and flyers made a great difference in the outcome of
the reinstatement of the meal coupon program," Inanaga said.

"But regardless of where we put the credit, it’s a victory for
students as a whole, because we all will be positively affected by
this program," he added.

ASUCLA, an organization that has been fraught with financial
difficulties, will benefit greatly from such a program, according
to Patricia Eastman, executive director of ASUCLA.

"I’m delighted because this means income to ASUCLA, and it means
a lot to the students now that they’re getting more value in their
coupons," said Eastman.

"It’s a really positive job done by the residence halls and I’m
just thrilled to have it back," she added.

Although the program will bring more money to ASUCLA, the
overall effect it has on the association’s $3.3 million deficit is
not extremely dramatic.

By bringing back the meal coupons, ASUCLA plans to collect
approximately $150,000 through the end of Spring quarter ­ the
difference between the value of the coupon and the cost of the
food.

"(The meal coupons) certainly help when you’re in a $3.3 million
deficit," said ASUCLA Finance Director Rich Delia. "(The expected
$150,000) is not quite enough to greatly impact it, but it
certainly helps," he added.

The program’s return includes an added value to the coupons.

ASUCLA decided to add 30 cents to both lunch and dinner coupons
to appease student disapproval of the coupon’s relatively low
value, Eastman said.

Without the 30-cent increase, ASUCLA officials agreed that it
was doubtful that the meal coupons would not have returned.

"We think (the 30-cent subsidy) is well worth it," Delia said.
"It not only will help ASUCLA, but also students as well."

With the program back on line, Inanaga pledged support to OCHC
in helping them throughout the year in other issues not necessarily
related to the meal coupons.

"Now that we’ve accomplished the short term problem, we’re going
to move on to other important issues, but we’ll still work with
OCHC because we’ve proven that we can achieve a victory together,"
Inanaga said.