On The Upside

Morningside’s meal plan pricing has upset some students who do not think they are getting their money’s worth.

Kylie Kneifl, a nursing student at Morningside, said, “It irritates me that I pay $9.00 for supper and only eat a cold sandwich.”

Morningside College offers four different meal plans each ringing in at $1860. The first, offers 140 meals in the dining hall per semester, and $175 worth of flex points that can be used in Bucks or in the Spoonholder. The second, offers 120 meals in the dining hall per semester and $250 in flex points. The third, offers 19 meals in the dining hall each week and $25 in flex points. The last, offers 14 meals in the dining hall per week and $75 in flex points.

Shiran Nathaniel, general manager of Sodexo, gave insight into the factors that make up the meal plan. Students have to understand Sodexo only receives a portion of the money students’ pay for each meal plan. Sodexo comes up with a number factoring in participation, food costs, employee pay, etc. then gives that number to the business office where they factor in maintenance and other costs. Finally, a definite number is decided for the meal plans.

The dining hall provides buffet style dining. Although not everyone takes advantage of the many food and dessert options, the dining hall provides a variety to best satisfy everyone’s needs.

Sodexo puts in “monotonous breakers” like Valentines, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, Mardi gras, and cuisine from around the world to change up the everyday food options.  Sodexo also manages the individual menu items in order to offer different options from day to day.

Nathaniel said, “It’s like eating at your favorite restaurant three times a day, eventually you are going to get bored with it.”

Students want to pay for each meal individually. However according to Nathaniel, that is not an option. He said, “We would never be able to cover costs if students pay for each meal.”

Sodexo would be unable to prepare food and staff without knowing how many students would eat in the dining hall on any given day.

Nancy Seeman, a junior at Morningside, said, “Students, myself included, think they are only paying for the meal. We forget about all the other items that factor into the costs.”

Waste has also become a serious issue. In the past, Sodexo did tray-less days or weeks to prevent waste. Two years ago 260 pounds of waste resulted with the use of trays, and 120 pounds of waste without the use of trays.

Less waste could help control costs and even allow Sodexo to put more money back into the program.

Student Heath Center Director Carol Garvey, R.N., B.A., said, “In many ways I think there are too MANY options.  The buffet that is offered every meal is very different than what your family meals looked like at home before you came to college.  Dessert options offered at every meal seem way over the top as well as all of the sugary drinks.  Personally, I would love to see Morningside move to a school garden and raise (on campus) a large percentage of the food served in the cafe. Maybe work-study jobs to tend the gardens.”

Vonda Hilliard, a Sodexo employee, agrees with Garvey, “I think the students have too many options, and they do not take advantage of the sack-lunches.”

Carol also had an interesting outlook on the pricing she said, “I like to describe the pricing, in my opinion only here, like insurance money is pooled to balance for all.  Do I think some students will eat more than the average and some less than the average~ yes.  But in order for the food service to pay their workers as well as buy the food to serve 1000 or so students on a daily basis, this is probably the best option to assure enough food for all.  Shipping of food is a large expense, so back to my campus food garden, fresher and no shipping fees.”

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It is no secret that as a student living on Morningside’s campus, you are required to have a meal plan. However, the meal plan is not perfect, and does not satisfy every student’s needs.

The dining hall provides buffet style eating. However, not everyone takes advantage of the many food and dessert options.  The question remaining: should every student be charged the same amount regardless of how much they eat?

Although it is the student’s choice whether or not to take advantage of the buffet, not everyone can eat his or her money’s worth in one setting.  Especially when the only time students can take food out of the dining hall is if they have purchased a to-go meal.

Students should consider how much they eat and if it is worth the cost.  Is there a way the dining hall could charge only for what you eat? If students paid for exactly what they eat, they would become more conservative. Which would in turn cut back on food wastes for the dining hall.

Student Heath Center Director, Carol Garvey, R.N., B.A., said, “In many ways I think there are too MANY options.  The buffet that is offered every meal is very different than what your family meals looked like at home before you came to college.  Desserts options offered at every meal seem way over the top as well as all of the sugary drinks.  Personally, I would love to see Morningside move to a school garden and raise (on campus) a large percentage of the food served in the cafe. Maybe work-study jobs to tend the gardens.”

Vonda Hilliard, a Sodexo employee, said, “I think the students have too many options, and they do not take advantage of the sack-lunches.”

Moreover, in the 2009-2010 school year each meal plan cost $1,640.00 per semester. Currently, for the 2012-2013 school year each meal plan cost $1860.00 per semester. While the increase is only $220.00 over four years, most students are not eating any more than they did in previous years.

According to the trends from year to year, the meal plans will gradually become more expensive. Obviously with inflation, prices they are doomed to rise, but the dining hall should make changes to make the meal plans more affordable.

Carol also had an interesting outlook on the pricing she said, “I like to describe the pricing, in my opinion only here, like insurance money is pooled to balance for all.  Do I think some students will eat more than the average and some less than the average~ yes.  But in order for the food service to pay their workers as well as buy the food to serve 1000 or so students on a daily basis, this is probably the best option to assure enough food for all.  Shipping of food is a large expense, so back to my campus food garden..fresher and no shipping  fees.”

Although the meal plan is not perfect, there is room for improvement. Morningside could start producing some their own food to be used in the dining hall. Students should also take advantage of the to-go lunches. Whether a student chooses to eat or not, they are still paying for it. Hopefully, in time Sodexo and Morningside can work together and better tend to specific student needs.

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Do you get your money’s worth?

Everyday hundreds of Morningside students file into the “café” to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, are these students truly eating their money’s worth? Breakfast costs $4.50, lunch charges $7.55, and dinner rings in at $9.00.  Most of these prices are more expensive than walking across the street and eating at Dairy Queen or Subway.

Although the dining hall provides buffet style eating, not everyone takes advantage of the many food and dessert options.  The question remaining: should every student be charged the same amount regardless of how much they eat? Lexi Busch, a sophomore at Morningside, said, “I think it is unfair to pay the same amount when I religiously eat a cold turkey sandwich, and the football player next to me has three heaping plates of food.” Although it is the student’s choice whether or not to take advantage of the buffet, not everyone can eat his or her money’s worth in one setting.

Furthermore, Morningside requires you to live on campus for at least your freshman and sophomore year.  First year students normally live in a dorm, with inconvenient or no access to microwaves and ovens, requiring students to purchase a meal plan. Even second year students living in an apartment are denied stove access and hot plates, also motivating them to buy a meal plan.  Katie Weis, a sophomore at Morningside, said, “ I don’t think it’s fair that I pay extra to live in an apartment on campus, yet eating at the café or microwaving every meal are my only options.” Moreover, the college requires the purchase of a meal plan. However, do students realize how expensive these plans actually are?

In the 2009-2010 school year each meal plan cost $1,640.00 per semester. Currently, for the 2012-2013 school year each meal plan cost $1860.00 per semester. While the increase is only $220.00 over four years, most students are not eating any more than they did in previous years. Also, according to the trends from year to year, the meal plans will gradually become more expensive. Obviously with inflation prices they are doomed to rise, but the dining hall could make changes to make the meal plans more affordable.

Students should consider how much they eat and what they believe it is worth.  Is there a way the dining hall could charge only for what you eat? If students paid for exactly what they eat, students would become more conservative. Which would then cut back on food wastes for the dining hall. Charging exactly what each student would eat could also prevent the “freshman fifteen” because they wouldn’t eat from buffet style dining for every meal.

College is already expensive enough for students, and anything that will cut that cost can be helpful. Morningside’s meal plan should be revised and take into account how much food a student actually consumes.

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