The student government held its first fire-side chat last week. A group of senators asked Hickory Hall freshman for input on campus issues. Laundry was one of topics the residents discussed.

It was suggested that more washers and dryers be installed and it was also suggested that a laundry fee be included in room rates.

While more washers and dryers would certainly make doing the laundry easier for everyone, especially townhouse residents who have no washers to call their own, the idea of a laundry fee included with room rates, we believe, would not please the majority of Pitt-Johnstown’s residents.

Many schools, including St. Francis University and Carnegie Mellon University lump in a laundry fee with room rates to eliminate the bother of scrounging up quarters or dollar bills to replenish swipe-cards. And ideally, a $40 to $70 fee per semester (the approximate amount Carnegie Mellon campus residents pay for laundry according to a Carnegie Mellon housing department staff person) is supposed to be a cheaper alternative to paying for every load.

However, we maintain that Pitt-Johnstown’s current Mountain Cat cash System is a better method for paying for laundry. It is best not to charge a flat rate on all the residents. A Slippery Rock University housing director said his campus shares the same policy for the reason that Slippery Rock may be considered a suitcase campus, including many students who live relatively close to campus and who go home to work on weekends. This seems to be true of Pitt-Johnstown as well.

In addition, there is a great tendency for first year students especially to go home on weekends, lugging their laundry along. Some helicopter parents, lovingly hovering over every aspect of their child’s college life, encourage their child to come home so that mom can do the laundry. All in all, it is simpler to allow students to control what they spend on laundry.

In terms of the fireside chat, Hickory resident assistants, and residents were not aware student senators were coming to spark up the chat.

Few residents sat down with the student senators so they went door-to-door to speak with residents, a good initiative on the senators’ part. We encourage the senators and Resident assistants to be on the same page so that residents will be aware of scheduled fireside chats. Chats are to be held Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays every other week, each chat taking place at a different campus residence building. We especially encourage all residents, freshmen to seniors, to participate.