As Carnegie Mellon students searched for food on the first day of classes, some were introduced to a new version of the University's meal plan. The plan is required for all first-year students, but may also be purchased by upperclassmen. Meals may be bought using the declining balance known as DineXtra or with a meal block, which purchases a meal during certain times, or blocks, of the day.
In order to purchase a meal using a block, one must now select one of the pre-chosen meals offered at each of the University's dining establishments. Students are no longer permitted to use blocks to purchase things such as multiple candy bars or bottles of soda. Jane Fahringer, the general manger of Dining Services, said that this change came about after students suggested that blocks should be used for actual meals, not snacks.
"They did not think it was proper for parents to think that their sons and daughters were purchasing 'food' with the meal plan when in fact they were purchasing other items," explained Fahringer.
Also changed was the amount of meal blocks in the base "bronze" meal plan. Last year, a first-year with the bronze meal plan option had 24 meal blocks to use over a two-week period. This year, that number has dropped to 21, meaning a student only has to eat on campus once or twice a day in order to use up all of his or her meal blocks.
The Schatz Dining Room was also affected by the meal plan changes. This year, the all-you-care-to-eat dinner is offered Monday through Thursday, as opposed to just Monday and Thursday. To make up for the expanded service, all first-years are required to eat dinner at Schatz at least once each week. Dining Services says this change will encourage first-years to build a community around the table.
"At other universities, the DiningCommons or Dining Hall is a place where freshmen have fun and interesting times," said Elizabeth Buckser, a CFA junior and vice-chair of the student body dining committee. "The expanded Schatz program is in response to a commonly-held freshman feeling that eating was never made a part of their lives."
This change also concerns cost effectiveness.
"In order to financially be able to offer Schatz, there is a minimum required number of people [that must] dine in that facility," said Fahringer.
The student reaction to these changes has been mixed. Some students have expressed a desire for the plans to return to last year's format, while others feel that requiring meals is not right.
"I think that the meal plan last year was bad, and this year it's worse," said Jonathan Perry, a sophomore HSS student. "Making the freshmen eat at Schatz once a week is like forcing food down their throats."
While the majority of the changes were implemented to promote better eating and social habits among students, some students would prefer not having to buy large meals with their blocks. CFA first-years Lizz Hounshell and Rachael Mathey said that the meal block system does not fit with their current eating habits.
"I'm the kind of person who eats a granola bar or two. Being forced into the time blocks is sort of a pain," said Hounshell.
"I think we should have more Dine-Xtra. There are some foods that I want to buy, but then I end up using all my Dine," added Mathey.
Not all students have a problem with the new meal plan. Some, like CIT first-year Brandon Ash, feel that eating at Schatz once a week is something they would do whether required to or not.
"I eat at Schatz at least once a week anyway. It doesn't bother me. Most people would eat there once a week anyway," said Ash.
The updated meal plan may apply mainly to first-years, but Dining Services has not forgotten about the rest of the student body. Upperclassmen may purchase meal plans at the HUB anytime during the school year. Some of those plans include DineXtra only and some contain a combination of DineXtra and meal blocks. As usual, Schatz will continue to serve all University students, not just first-years, which some believe may lead to community building beyond the class of 2008.
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