The EMU Board authorized a budget increase larger than what its Budget Committee had previously recommended and began discussing the amount of trans fats available in EMU food services Wednesday night.
After a lengthy discussion, the board decided to ask the Student Senate for a 6 percent increase in the EMU’s student fee budget – a roughly $224,600 increase. Sens. Sara Hamilton, Jennifer Lleras and Bryanna Mannis voted against the measure, which passed 11-4.
But EMU Business Manager Jean Sun said the EMU would need to increase its total income by 10.6 percent just to maintain current services and staffing levels.
The maximum yearly increase allowed by student government rules is 7 percent.
Hamilton argued that the board had an obligation to represent students and to keep the incidental fee from increasing. She argued for the 5.5 percent increase previously proposed by the Budget Committee.
“Students are paying over half the needed increase,” she said.
Other board members expressed concern that setting a low benchmark would stifle the EMU’s chances of having a contingency plan in place to protect programs.
Food Services Director John Costello also addressed the board about trans fats for sale in the EMU. Costello informed the board about some of the health concerns and recent movements to ban trans fats in Canada and New York City.
Chinese food vendor Panda Express, for example, serves one gram of trans fat per 5.5 ounce serving of Orange Chicken, one of its most popular dishes, according to its Web site. Orange Chicken is the only food served at Panda that contains trans fat.
Subway serves small amounts in its bread, while cookies and baked goods sold in the EMU offer the most.
Although nothing will be done now, the board may consider a total ban on trans fats sold in the EMU. Costello will return with additional information about the effects of such a ban.