Iowa State Vice President of Business and Finance Warren Madden announced yesterday that the university will postpone the Hub-McDonald’s portion of the Memorial Union vending contract until fall.

“We are trying to be responsive to university needs and concerns,” Madden said in a press release. “There are a number of people who feel they did not have ample opportunity to comment on this issue, and we are going to give them that time.”

The press release comes the day after the McDonald’s portion of the vending contract received heavy criticism at a forum held in the Maintenance Shop, which was attended by Madden.

“President Jischke made the ultimate decision,” Madden said. “He made the decision on a recommendation from me.”

The remainder of the Memorial Union vending contract will be presented to the Board of Regents some time today. The proposed vending contract will no longer include any type of proposal to put a restaurant in the Hub.

Lucas Rockwell, one of the organizers of the July 12 anti-McDonald’s rally, said he is glad the university is willing to listen.

“I’m very happy — happy to see the [university] administration has responded to student concerns and I hope the students do get a referendum in the fall,” Rockwell said. “I think the protest had a pretty positive influence.”

Rockwell said he thought Tuesday’s forum was a great help because it showed how many students and faculty members are against it.

Government of the Student Body President Adam Gold released a statement in which he said he met with Madden and Memorial Union Managing Director Mary Jo Mertens. He said the three discussed several options and agreed that it would be in the students’ best interest to defer presentation of the McDonald’s proposal to the Regents until the beginning of fall.

“Those who feel that they weren’t informed or involved in this process will have a chance to have their voices heard in the fall when all of the students have returned. I stand steadfast by my decision to support this initiative and feel that once students return a better cross-section will be available for their input,” Gold said in the press release.

Later, Gold said he meant there would be a better cross-section of students to give opinions on the issue.

Nancy Eaton, dean of Parks Library, said postponing the McDonald’s decision is probably an effort to answer the university community’s questions. She said the library is pleased the university is holding off on the decision.

“I think it’s probably a good decision on the university’s part,” Eaton said.

Madden said he believes the administration should give more people a chance to speak on the issue.

“I visited today with representatives from the Union and McDonald’s and they had no problem with the deferment,” Madden said. “We’ve reflected on the commentary we’ve received, the forum yesterday, the communications that have been coming in from various places around campus … The president concluded that the decision to defer [the McDonald’s portion of the contract presentation] was reasonable.”

John Scriver, an organizer of the anti-McDonald’s rally, said he thinks this decision to postpone is a very good thing.

“The fact that Madden is recognizing that there is some opposition to this is a good thing,” he said.

Scriver said he believes the protest may have affected the decision because of the large number of university members who attended and showed their disapproval.

“I would think the protest was a very big influence, if not the determining factor of it,” Scriver said.

He recommended the university talk to campus leaders, particularly the Faculty Senate, GSB senators and the Graduate Student Senate.

“If those three bodies are in favor of McDonald’s in the Hub, then it is perhaps a better reflection of students’ desires. Just don’t railroad it in the summer without any input from us whatsoever,” Scriver said.

He said he has no immediate plans for further protesting the Hub and said “it is Madden’s call now. If he looks into it, like he says he will, then it will take care of itself.”

Scriver said it would be great if Madden is sincere and really is going to look to students and faculty for input. If not, Scriver said, the rally organizers were able to get 200 people to protest in the middle of the summer and he doubts they will have a problem doing so again in the fall.