March 2nd, 2020

  • Head of College 

    • Renovations will be discussed

    • Head Near did not want this to happen, the decision went well above the Head of College and Dean’s roles

    • Head Near pushed for the added incentives that were offered in the email.

    • Dining Hall was retrofitted in the 30’s. It was built so that all of the food is cooked and dishes are washed in the basement, and then brought up to the servery.

    • The elevator for the dining hall workers doesn’t really work; the loading dock sucks – so we need to have a lot of structural changes that are very invasive to the kitchen.

    • The Saybrook Community is likely much more affected than Branford because their community isn’t as centered and focused around the dining hall. 

    • Head Near hopes that a Saybrook Section in Commons will really help to continue community. 

    • For dinner, Yale on York will be available; other colleges will hopefully relax restrictions for Saybrook and Branford students.

    • Head Near hopes that this challenge will strengthen the community and not weaken it.

    • Q and A time

      • Q: The timing of this announcement sucks for juniors and seniors with regards to students leaving. It really seems like this was a backhanded move from Yale to keep students in the colleges when the dining hall was closing.

        • A: This information was shared with the community when we were allowed to by Yale. 

      • Q: Who do we protest against?

        • A: The head of Yale Facilities and Marvin Chun.

      • Q: How will this affect renovations in the basement that were supposed to have happened this summer

        • A: This summer’s basement project is on. The basement should be done by the end of the summer. 

      • Q: How will construction affect our lives next year.

        • A: We don’t really know, but we won’t have access to the seating portion of the dining hall next year. There may be scaffolding around nearby entryways. We won’t really know everything until we get the timeline and plans in April. 

      • Q: Again, the timing was really bad with the announcement. Is the dining hall going to be completely closed, or could it be used as a gathering space/study space?

        • A: As far as right now, the space is totally unavailable.

      • Q: Is the Branford dining hall also going to be closed?

        • A: Yes.

      • Q: Why isn’t this starting now and not affecting us for the whole academic year?

        • A: The work needed is 14 months long. By starting in June, it will finish by the beginning of the 2021-2022 year.

      • Q: Is it possible to have some other student café spaces in Saybrook?

        • A: Near can’t say no – the Acorn was student initiated – so this is a possibility.

      • Q: Is Durfee’s actually closing next year?

        • A: Durfee’s is closing next year. There will be a convenience type thing in Commons next year.

      • Q: Can we have days where the student kitchen is completely open?

        • A: We can think about this.

      • Q: How much are the ‘points’ we’re getting worth in spaces?

        • A: Near doesn’t know.

      • Q: We are still required to be on the meal plan while living in Saybrook. Can we have an option to not be on the meal plan?

        • A: Near will ask.

      • Q: Is Commons only open for lunch next year?

        • A: Yes, Commons will only be open for lunch.

      • Q: Can we get a long table at Yale on York?

        • A: We can certainly push for this.

      • Q: Can we please push to have Senior Dinner in the dining hall?

        • A: This is very possible. If the schedule is on pace, this may definitely happen. Further, sometime before the end of the term, we’ll learn how other college dining halls will change.

      • Q: The off-campus meal plan would be really nice for Branford and Saybrook students living on campus next year. This could possibly make-or-break people’s decisions to stay on campus or not.

        • A: We’ll ask.

      • Q: Why will this take 14 months? Is there a chance that this gets delayed?

        • A: 14 months is a hard line. The reason it’s going to take so long is because they are planning to gut the entire space and create a new room under the Branford courtyard. 

      • Q: What’s the deal with continental breakfast?

        • A: It will likely be in the Branford Common Room.

      • Q: Could we work with the budget to have more community events?

        • A: We are going to f-ing BLOW the budget next year. We want to make more use of the Saybrook-Branford and Lyceum rooms. The pop-up events will hopefully help foster this as well. 

      • Q: What’s the deal with catered events in individual classes?

        • A: TBD.

      • Q: Will the renovation increase the size of the Saybrook basement because it occupies a chunk of the Saybrook basement?

        • A: We don’t think so.

      • Q: Are the people at the top available to meet with students? Did they consult with students in the making of these plans?

        • A: They did not consult with students. They seem hopefully able to meet with us, but we’re not sure. A May 2019 survey definitely registered that Saybrook and Branford were last in dining quality by a large margin.

      • Q: What’s happening to the dining hall staff?

        • A: The timing is really good for the staff, because the entire Saybrook/Branford staff will get to move en masse to Commons. They would then have the option to come back to Saybrook/Branford, or stay in Commons, if they wish to.

      • Q: Can we repurpose Saybrook’s multipurpose rooms as common room spaces?

        • A: Yes.

      • Q: What happened to the Saybrook summer renovations plans? 

        • A: Near and Lafargue have no idea. 

      • Q: What about crowding in the dining hall when it is the best dining hall on campus?

        • A: We will impose restrictions on people in the dining hall like other colleges do. Bold prediction: we won’t be overcrowded because of the circuitiousness of the way to get to the dining hall, and “haters are going to keep hating”.

      • Q: Can we have Commons or a space in Commons open for dinner?

        • A: The person that schedules the spaces in Commons works for Yale and Steve Schwarzman himself. That person is not willing to allow Saybrook and Branford students to use the space. 

      • Q: What’s going to happen to the art in the dining hall, including the one of Bouchet?

        • A: The Bouchet portrait is done! The varnish is going on this weekend. That portrait will reside in Biggs House next year and will return to the dining hall the year after.

      • Q: Can we clarify the Yale on York policy?

        • A: It seems like that space will be open every day for dinner.

      • Q: Just bringing up a point. The Yale Student Body will be 400 students larger next year because of the new college expansion. 

        • A: This is true. Yale College is expecting more upperclassmen to be moving off campus as class sizes increase – the proportion will likely remain the same. Further, hopefully dining hours will increase next year.

      • Q: The poor dining quality actually increases Saybrook community. See Berkeley which is a great dining hall, so everyone eats there.

        • A: This is on the student body to continue this. Once we’re in the zone of acceptance about this process, we’ll be able to come together greatly.

      • Q: Will this strain study space, especially due to construction noise?

        • A: We’re not sure what the impact of the construction will be. But there would definitely be no work performed in the evenings. 

      • Q: Can we know about the 5-meal a week plan literally immediately, because this is a big factor in upperclassmen’s decision to stay on campus by Friday and lease-signing is on Wednesday.

        • A: We’ll get an answer tomorrow.

      • Q: Thank you for pushing for us and we appreciate that it has not been easy for you (Near and Lafargue) to communicate for the administration. But the reperations for our dining hall closing suck. There’s been no acknowledgement from Yale that a dining hall has impact beyond that it’s where we eat. Can we push ourselves and get an acknowledgement – actual things – like a larger budget, further basement renovations, etc…

        • A: Yes.

      • Q: Having a home for dinner would be really great. Yale on York even will be good at least as a space for Saybrook people to gather.

        • A: Yes.

      • Q: How will the renovations affect the basement renovations?

        • A: They won’t - basement renovations will be done.

      • Q: Are students allowed to talk with donors through this process?

        • A: Probably no… Development handles all of that.

      • Q: In what capacity were alumni consulted about this project but not us students?

        • A: Near was the one talking with alumni.

      • Q: Will this affect how financial aid works for people who are getting covered with room and board?

        • A: This changes nothing regarding financial aid.

      • Q: For students on financial aid, moving off campus is not an option – so for students who have a bunch of friends moving off campus next year, this reaaaaally sucks.

        • A: Yes.

      • Q: The misconstruedness that this was the student’s initiative was quite frankly a lie.

        • A: That’s not necessarily true. There was a large consistent message from students that dining quality was a reason for people moving off campus, and that was really taken into effect when these plans were created.

      • Q: Can we get basement plans for the renovations sent out to the community?

        • A: Final plans will be coming out soon. The buttery and computer lab will be redone. The game room will get wood paneling. The ceilings will painted black but the pipes will still be uncovered. Stuff about the basement will be sent out later.

      • Q: Can we get the renovations pushed back a year so that all of these things can be thought out with student involvement, etc?

        • A: The big issue is that the Saybrook dining hall staff won’t have anywhere to go for a year. The great thing is that Commons is being opened next year so that they can go there.

      • Q: Can we start a committee about this?

        • A: Yes.

      • Q: What if we create a schedule of what dining hall Saybrook should take over each night?

        • A: Sure!

      • Q: Will all of the basement facilities still be open?

        • A: Yes, and they will be in better shape next year!

      • Q: Is the Underbrook getting renovated?

        • A: No.

      • Q: Can we get large events with a bunch of first years to help integrate them next year with the lack of the dining hall?

        • A: Yes, definitely.

      • Q: We should have an extra committee to plan stuff beyond SAC for next year.

        • A: That’s a good idea.

      • Q: Many thanks for dealing with our questions for so long!

        • A: It’s a difficult position for Near and Lafargue, but they’re so proud of us students that we are using the agency to let them know how we feel. Thanks to the students too!

  • Dean’s Report 

    • Friday is the deadline for Credit/D/Fail and Withdrawal without a W.

    • Housing info sessions are Tuesday at 8 for class of 2023, and Wednesday at 7:30 and 8 respectively for classes of 2021 and 2022.

  • SAC

    • There will be cookies and a talent show in the common room on Thursday!

  • Community Service 

    • No business.

  • By-Laws

    • Did you know: the dining hall is getting renovated!

  • Media

    • Special series: take your ‘before’ pictures of the dining hall and send them to the SY Instagram!

  • Fischer Report

    • Call facilities if you have problems with the renovations!

  • GayBrook

    • Stay tuned after spring break! Next year we will work to integrate the first years!

  • SlaYdies

    • There was an event this past weekend!

    • There will be a plant-based picnic after spring break.

  • BlackBrook

    • No new business.

  • College Seminar

    • There will be an email after spring break to set up a dinner.

  • Kamm Report (Previously dining hall)

    • We’ve talked enough about dining; there will be chicken tenders on Thursday!

  • Koomson Report

    • Sarah Force had pizza for dinner.

  • Housing

    • You are housed.

    • See info about housing meetings above!

  • IMs

    • Come take out your dining-hall anger on Hopper because they are catching up.

    • POI: there will hopefully be volleyball in the spring.

  • Saybrew

    • There is some good stuff that his been kegged.

    • If you need Saybrew’s help in drinking away your dining hall anxieties, contact them to come to your event.

    • POI: Can they come to the insomnia cookie study break?

  • SYHSC

    • Did you know: while there are lions on our crest, our actual mascot is a seal.

  • YCC

    • There will be elections coming up after break.

    • POI: Do we know who’s running for YCC senate yet? No not yet.

  • Sustainability

    • An email will be sent out asking people to turn off appliances over break.

  • SY Committee of Art 

    • We’ll be meeting after break to talk about a new plan to refurbish the dining hall art.

    • POI: Can we get SY laptop stickers with dining hall art?

  • Old Business

    • What about that trip to Old Saybrook beach from last week? 

  • Treasurer’s Report

    • $0.00 in the fund.

  • New Business

    • Can we PLEEEAAAASE get a student café in Saybrook? It would be really great for that kind of space in Saybrook?

      • POI: Can we get a buttery open during the day?

      • POI: A more chillax working space would be really nice. Above ground would be really important to this. There isn’t really enough space in the buttery either.

      • POI: Can we increase funds to the Squiche next year? Yes, but it will be student run. 

      • POI: Café = more jobs for students. 

    • Can we start a committee to have Saybrook College teas? There are a lot of notable Saybrook alums that would be cool to speak.

      • We should start a committee for this!

    • Next year Saybrook will be starting a program to bring students to the Met Opera! Tickets will be lotteried. Contact me (frosh Ben) as I am a student coordinator!