Special Business
Tuesday, March 17, Chief Business Officer Sean Hughes addressed the delay in the completion of West Woods Dining Hall. Hughes characterized the delay as a contracting oversight rather than a contracting mistake, citing an issue with countertops and cabinets.
Sen. Riya Budhrani ’29 asked if Commons Dining Hall will be closed when the new dining hall opens. Hughes replied that the facility will not be open to students and staff, though certain dining operations will continue in the basement.
Sen. Isha Alaina Tubera ’26 inquired about the kinds of stations that will be featured in the new dining hall. Assistant Vice President of Auxiliary Services Jackson Mathews highlighted new menu items, noting that advancements in equipment will allow for greater variety while maintaining current food freshness standards.
Sen. Mayer Tawfik ’27 requested clarification on expectations for services and the layout. Hughes stated that West Woods Dining Hall will be the largest and most versatile of the dining halls, describing the ambience of the main seating area as sitting in an upscale restaurant with booths.
Sen. Jenny Wang ’29 asked if a new version of the Tribe Market will be available in the new dining hall. Mathews discussed the possibilities of developing a system where patrons could compile a “virtual cart,” charging them upon leaving the dining hall. Mathews emphasized that this is only in the planning stages and is not a confirmed possibility at this time.
Budhrani asked about plans for the Green and Gold Village site. Hughes stated that the buildings will be demolished, as Chief of Staff Taylor Brings confirms that there are no approved plans for the space.
Sen. Neha Baskar ’29 inquired about potential plans to digitize Tribe Cards. Mathews explained that there are limitations on what can be shared currently, but the process of moving to mobile has begun.
Tubera asked if there were any updates on potential sites for the new dumpsters. Brings confirmed engineers have identified potential locations, but they will most likely be installed at a later date due to the construction occurring on those sites. Waste-watch stickers have been placed in these areas, with implementation beginning in the fall.
In response to a question from class of 2026 President Debbie Ho ’26, Hughes reported that the scaffolding on the Sir Christopher Wren Building should be removed and construction completed around Commencement.
Mathews elaborated on new concepts for other spaces, like the Sadler Center, along with the opening of the nearby West Woods Dining Hall. He mentioned ideas for Mediterranean or Mexican cuisine retail partners, a soup and sandwich shop or a dessert stand, based on student feedback.
New Business
Graduate School of Computing, Data Sciences and Physics Sen. Daniel Otten B.A. ’23 P.h.D. ’27 introduced the Public Safety Innovation & Transparency Act, which proposes increased oversight and evaluation of a campus-wide public safety system, ZeroEyes.
The bill seeks to gather student input through a survey before making formal recommendations to the administration. Otten asserts that this system is trivial and replaceable with more secure safety services.
Old Business
The Student Assembly Senate passed the Trees to Chessboards Act, sponsored by class of 2029 President Daria Lesmerises ’29. This bill aims to utilize excess lumber from various projects around the College of William and Mary campus in a creative way.
The art departments will help create chessboards and chess pieces for student recreational use.
Executive Updates
The Executive discussed student concerns regarding Flock cameras, noting that the machines are unable to detect faces and can only capture license plates. Additionally, the cameras do not retain data beyond 21 days and cannot share information with federal agencies. Further discussion is expected when Associate Vice President for Public Safety Cliff Everton ’96 visits the senate on Tuesday, March 31.
