The Michigan Student Assembly passed a resolution at last night’s weekly meeting to address the lack of Saturday night dining options in University residence halls.

The resolution states that MSA will write a letter to University Housing, the Residence Halls Association and The Michigan Daily emphasizing the assembly’s support for keeping at least one dining hall open on Saturday nights. It was authored by LSA Reps. Timothy Bekkers and Virat Gupta and Business Rep. Alex Serwer,

It also said MSA will continue to work with RHA to gather student feedback and assess the feasibility of implementing this option.

According to the resolution, it would cost an estimated $300,000 per year for the University to keep one dining hall open on Saturday nights. This averages out to about $30 per year for each resident hall resident.

Bekkers said the resolution would help students who are struggling financially by providing more inexpensive meal options.

“It’s a pretty big social justice issue also, because I think (closed dining halls) hurt the people who can least afford to be here at this school already,” he said.

Though the resolution passed 29-3, there was some opposition from Residence Hall Association President Ashley Londy. She said that MSA’s involvement might not be the most effective way to implement Saturday night dining and stressed that RHA will discuss the issue Thursday

“I don’t think it’s necessarily the most effective way when the manager of dining says to get anything done needs to come through RHA,” she said. “I feel like MSA just has better things to do.”

Bekkers disagreed with Londy, saying it was important for MSA to start the dialogue so that RHA could take action.

“I think MSA works well enough to have a big voice and also has the possibility of working together with RHA,” he said. “Someone had to start the dialogue.”

Student General Counsel Michael Benson echoed Bekkers’s sentiment. He said it was important for an assembly member to present the issue to promote collaboration with RHA.

“It’s an issue that affects all of our constituents,” he said. “So now we’ll work collaboratively, as we have in the past, with RHA to try and find some sort of a solution.”

Though he agreed with the ideas put forth in the resolution, Benson urged the assembly to take more action rather than simply writing letters.

“I’m trying to encourage people to go beyond just ‘let’s write a letter,’” he said. OK, we support it, let’s do something tangible. Let’s have a rally, have a protest, let’s have meetings with people.”

— Brittney Miller contributed to this report.