Message-Id: <200110160709.DAA15420@home-on-the-dome.mit.edu>
To: lmf@MIT.EDU
Subject: cable vote - lisez, svp
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 03:09:58 -0400
From: Morgan A Sonderegger <smore@MIT.EDU>

At Sunday's House Meeting, there was a vote on a motion by Keith for the
house to get cable TV service until the end of the academic year at the
cost of 73 cents per person per month.  The motion went to a vote, which
was counted at first by me as being a tie.  However, some calls for a
recount were heard, and the vote somehow ended up being counted again in
a somewhat more chaotic manner.  In this second vote, several people
changed their vote.  In general, Keith and I agreed that the vote on
whether or not to get cable did not seem totally legit.  We'd like to do
the vote again over email as follows:

- Below are two paragraphs, one written by proponents of the motion and
  one written by an opponent of the motion.

- After reading these two paragraphs, please send Mary and me a vote of
  "yes", "no", or "abstain" via email before midnight tonight (Tuesday).

- A simple majority will be required for the motion to pass.

- To make sure there is no concern over my position on the motion, I
  will abstain in this vote.

Thanks a lot!

Morgan


---
PRO

Given the current international events, we should have access to news
from the BBC, CNN, Headline News, MSNBC, and C-SPAN, all provided in
this "Economy Basic" package. Additionally, lots of members have
expressed interest in channels like the Discovery Channel, Arts &
Entertainment, The Learning Channel, The History Channel, TNN, techtv,
CNNfn (financial) and CNBC. The full list of channels is available at
the bottom of: http://www.fallsearth.com/campus/2139/subservices.cfm
Most of those who have expressed interest in cable have made clear their
intention not to monopolize the TV and the lounge with cable on all the
time, and have pledged not to let this become a major distraction.

- Manuel and Megan, Social Chairs
- Susan and Keith, Ministers of Education


---

CON:

I don't want the house to get cable for fairly simple reasons.  I don't
see it adding that vastly to our education on current events - the house
already gets two newspapers and we all have internet access.  It is not
social - at least playing videogames people yell at each other or rap
along.  I see cable as simply another distraction in an all too
distracting kitchen-area-world.

-Mary