by Nico Patakidis

During an Associated Students (A.S.) meeting on Sept. 19, faculty and students shared their plans for the future of Cal Poly Humboldt, touching on topics ranging from the future of student dining services to protocols for ICE activity on campus. Senior Executive Director Todd Larsen gave a presentation about Humboldt’s Chartswell partnership agreement. Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success Chrissy Holliday shared a board report regarding what Cal Poly Humboldt’s response would look like if ICE ever paid the campus a visit. Old business in regard to the previously proposed A.S. grants were also revisited. 

Chartswell and student dining

Chartswell is the contract foodservice management that partners with the university to organize dining services and provide funds related to dining on campus. One topic discussed in the presentation was offering EBT use on-campus at the College Creek Marketplace as well as the Giant’s Cupboard. These changes are planned to come into effect this December. 

Another part of the Chartswell agreement is to spend $100,000 each year in a partnership with Sysco to give food and other items to OhSnap! to distribute. However, the agreement has changed to give $85,000 to OhSnap! for them to spend the money themselves at places other than Sysco, in order to stretch the money further and provide even more to students. 

Funds in the Chartswell agreement are also set aside for renovations and new equipment, such as the new boba and ramen restaurant in The Depot. Larsen said that these funds will be used in the future to renovate The J dining hall, potentially adding accessibility accommodations, a new gluten-avoidant section and an all-day breakfast station. Plans are not finalized, however, as they are looking towards renovations being made in the summer of 2027. 

“We’ve got about 2 million to hopefully do a little bit of work in The J the next couple of years,” Larsen said. “We want to refresh it, see what we can do.” 

ICE protocol

During Holliday’s ICE board report, she shared that faculty and staff would be under no obligation to speak to ICE agents or share the location of where students may be. While ICE may appear on campus, they may only pull students from class should they have a judicially signed warrant to do so. 

Holliday said that the university will not do any more than what is requested on a warrant. Due to Measure K, which prevents law enforcement from working with ICE, UPD is also unable to assist unless an ICE officer is assaulted. Holliday said that campus leadership is also having discussions about setting up signage and establishing perimeters that are considered safe zones for students to go should ICE presence appear on campus. Scholars Without Borders currently has a room on the second floor in the Balabanis House for students to go in these situations and also offers Cal Poly Humboldt-specific red cards that list rights and instructions for students. 

“I think it’s kind of to provide some reassurance to the students that this is an area that is safe for you,” said Ayan Cabot, the Executive Vice President of Associated Students.

In the previous A.S. meeting, Administration and Finance Vice President Nate Heron proposed new on-campus and off-campus grants. While the grants were previously not approved, in this meeting, the board discussed new revisions made to them. The main changes made were wording changes to clarity information, as well as more detailed rubrics. The revised grants have been approved by the board, and are available for students to apply. 

A.S. is looking to get more involved with the student body on-campus and engage with Cal Poly Humboldt’s community. Mary Angelie Mangubat, the A.S. Officer of External Affairs, discussed giving in-class presentations to connect and inform students about the student organization. 

“Who are my leaders who are setting the tone and setting the example [that are] thinking about me?” Mangubat said after giving a model presentation that would be shared to students in class. “Thats how I want y’all to kind of perceive this rather than our titles.” 

Nico is a sophomore journalism major with an interest in covering local government and political affairs. In his free time he enjoys hanging out and can be reached at np211@humboldt.edu.