CLIMATE CHECK
Sophomore Senator Eva Smith said tuition increased 10% at Trinity over the past year, and many students did not anticipate paying this much. She asked about the reasoning, to which Jessica Edonick, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, said that Mark Detterick, vice president for finance and administration and Andrew Wells, vice president of student affairs, are better suited to explain these factors. She said they plan to support families affected by this increase and can elaborate on Senator Smith’s question during the March 18 SGA meeting.
Junior Senator Maya Tsai said that packages have gone missing in City Vista’s ground-floor mailroom. Tsai said she contacted Residential Life Coordinator Dylan Pflum, and he said that there is nothing ResLife can do, as there are no cameras in the room. President Ratrut suggested establishing a system in which the front desk collects packages. Dean Edonick said they should reach out to Pflum and Rachel Toppel, director of residential life, to set up this system or find an alternative solution.
STAFF CHAT WITH CHARTWELLS
RECAP OF FALL SEMESTER
Chase Taylor, director of dining services, said that survey results from 400 students found the most popular items at Mabee Dining Hall are pasta, Mediterranean cuisine, pizza and pho, among others. He said that lunch participation has gone up 21.7% since the 2024 fall semester and explained that Chartwells has been working to refine and improve certain initiatives, such as the pre-made pasta station and the Blends and Bowls station.
RESIDENTIAL UPDATES
Taylor said Trinity dining has tried to elevate pasta recipes and adjust their menu, such as adding grilled chicken to the FLIPS menu and offering healthier dessert alternatives. He said there will be events for National Bagel Day, Cheese Lovers Day, Acai Bowl Day and Waffle Day.
ENGAGEMENT UPDATES
Taylor spoke about upcoming events, such as a SMOK’D three-part series in which students can learn how to smoke different kinds of meats. He mentioned that there will be a Mardi Gras lunch and dinner menu in February, as well as a cookie-making event in April. On Monday, Feb 16, upper campus will host a mobile hurricane cocktail bar, according to Taylor.
SUGGESTIONS
Senator Clark asked about collaborating with Chartwells to implement a food pantry on campus. Taylor said that he was told prior that Trinity didn’t need one, but that he would be happy to work with SGA on this.
Junior Inclusion and Belonging Chair Ayesha Farrukh said that she saw cross-contamination of meat with vegan patties at the FLIPS station in Mabee, and asked about dining hall protocols. Taylor said that there are separate grills to prevent cross-contamination and that he will look into this issue. Farrukh also mentioned that she was told that the dining hall was closed at 8 p.m. on a Monday, even though it is supposed to be open until 9 p.m. Junior Senator Camryn Sperling said that while she has never been turned away, she has experienced issues with food options running out around 8 p.m. Taylor said that no one should be turned away at that time, and to email him directly if that happens again. He also said that the dining hall should only stop batch-cooking items at 8:45 p.m., and that he will look into why this is happening.
OFFICER REPORTS
President Ratrut asked for volunteers for the 2026 Election Committee and Chocolate Fest. He also mentioned that the third-party contractor that manages all upper campus bathroom facilities will now be stocking menstrual products in certain restrooms. President Ratrut asked for volunteers to decide which bathrooms to prioritize on upper campus.
President Ratrut said that Trinity will implement a new policy in the Fall 2026 semester to limit scooters and electric vehicles in buildings, as lithium batteries can pose a fire hazard. Students will no longer be allowed to charge these items in their rooms, and President Ratrut said that Trinity’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety asked him if SGA could fund scooter charging stations. These stations would be able to charge five scooters at a time and cost $2,500. He said that either they could fund the charging stations, or scooters would be banned on campus. Many senators said this is a problem that affects only a minority of students and that they are not interested in funding the charging stations.
FIELD DAY EVENT
Sophomore Collaborations Chair Julio Melara is planning a field day event alongside OREC with a tentative date of Saturday, March 21. He said students can participate in games such as a three-legged race, pickleball and spikeball, and that there would also be food at the event.
