Miami University Students Pushing For Changes In Meal Plans On Campus

BY RACHEL TRACY
Miami University journalism student
Dining options are under review at Miami University after a survey from the Residence Hall Association showed that 91.4 percent of responding students were upset with current choices.

Miami this semester eliminated a la carte options on campus, forcing students to eat at buffet-only dining halls or requiring them to spend "declining balance" dollars in campus restaurants.

Meal Plan Changes

Responding to student complaints, Miami's Associated Student Government passed a “Senate Resolution to Support the Conversion of Swipes to Declining Balance” which states: “Many students have class, organization meetings, or athletic commitments that last until after dining halls close and with their only dining options on campus being a la carte locations they are not able to eat without using declining balance.”

Currently, students have three meal plan options to choose from:

Under its resolution, ASG asks the administration to allow students to convert meal "swipes" -- used in buffet locations -- to declining balances. ASG suggests students handle the transaction online and absorb a small premium for the transaction.

The change is needed because swipes do not transfer over from semester to semester, but declining balances do. That has left many students with dozen of unused swipes as the semester comes to an end, and inspired a change.org campaign to allow swipes to convert to declining balance dollars. The Miami Parent Facebook page is filled with complaints about students with 100 or more remaining swipes.

With a second resolution -- “Senate Resolution Supporting the Addition of a Declining Balance Option to All Meal Plans” -- ASG suggests that Miami give students an additional meal plan option of $2,500 in declining balance dollars to spend at any dining location. That would satisfy students who need to eat after dining halls close at 8 p.m.

“After multiple bills passed through Student Senate, ASG has worked hard to improve dining for all students,” said ASG Secretary for On-Campus Affairs James Oaks. “The new meal plan option offers more declining balance and less buffet swipes to allow for more flexibility on campus.”

“We will be presenting to the board a 115-swipe plan with $1,100 in declining balance,” said Senior Director for Food and Beverage Geno Svec. “Assuming it is approved by the board it will be ready for fall semester 2017-2018.”

Dining Changes on Campus

Bell Tower Place used to offer both a la carte and to-go dining, but currently offers only buffet-style eating to students. ASG is asking Bell Tower Place be transformed back into an a la carte dining option. So far, Bell Tower Place has changed to offer pizza and salads to-go.

“I’m still working with the administration to change Bell Tower back to a la carte, and those conversations will continue in the coming weeks,” said Oaks, who launched a different change.org campaign to force the issue.

These a la carte changes to Bell Tower Place are expected to take place in the fall of 2017, said Svec.

Other changes to campus dining that have just recently taken place include sushi being offered at Dividends, Bell Town Market, McCracken Market, King Café, Tea Hive and Emporium, said Svec.

Photo: Miami offers a range of dining options, but this year's focus on buffet dining has not gone well. -- Contributed photo