Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
Meal plans don't satisfy students
High prices and limited hours cited in dining hall frustrations
Kathy Wang
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Penn's meal plan system has long been a source of dissatisfaction among students, whose complaints range from the high price of plans to dining halls' limited hours of operation. And as the semester comes to a close, students are often left with dozens of unused meals.
"We believe meal plans connect students to their College Houses, other students and make sure students get adequate nutrition their first year," said director of Business Services Laurie Cousart.
But some students, while agreeing with the concept behind meal plans, still expressed discontent about the plans' costs and other factors.
"It's a huge waste of money, the dining halls are unhealthy, and I use way more Dining Dollars than meals," said College freshman Julia Swanson, who said an increase in Dining Dollars and a decrease in meals would make the plans more attractive.
All incoming freshman undergraduates are required to purchase one of four first-year meal plans for about $4,000 that range from the Liberty Plan, with 250 all-you-can-eat meals and $800 Dining Dollars, to the Quaker Plan, with 650 meals and $100 Dining Dollars.
"It's not exactly as simple as taking the total cost and dividing it by the number of meals," said Cousart.
She said that the price of plans takes into account costs for the entire year, including labor, dining hall furniture and maintenance and special events such as brunches in the Quad and Guest Chef nights.
Another common complaint is the hours dining halls keep.
"I frequently find myself wanting to eat when the dining halls aren't open," said College freshman Dave Harbage, who ends up using many of his meals by buying water bottles at McClelland Hall.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 9
Cost Cutter
posted 4/29/08 @ 3:08 PM EST
Maybe they could reduce costs by cutting out some of the extraneous management in the Business Services Division. They could start with Cousart. She's a prime example of bloated inept Penn admin. (Continued…)
Baller 1
posted 4/30/08 @ 7:43 PM EST
I completely agree. Penn administration is bloated by so many extraneous positions; furthermore, the people in these roles barely supervise those they are supposed to lead. (Continued…)
Alum '05
posted 5/01/08 @ 9:22 AM EST
You can complain about the food, but then you can't complain about an increase in cost to better it. We as students seem to complain about both... what's with the entitlement? Eat what is put in front of you, and if not, go to FroGro and make your own meal. (Continued…)
craig
posted 5/01/08 @ 7:40 PM EST
an easy solution would be do drastically cut the number of (horrible dining hall) meals and allow people to spend dining dollars at more places off campus like nyu lets you do. (Continued…)
Suggestion
posted 5/01/08 @ 7:57 PM EST
I think it's fairly reasonable to ask the dining people to offer meal plans that allow students to pay less and receive fewer meals, or to allow them to opt out even freshman year so that they can save the money. (Continued…)
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