2008 Woodie Awards
Scheduling issues in cafeteria make for inconvenient eating; Meal plan benefits Aramark only
Ian Parker '10
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: Opinion
On weekend nights, people can observe a strange thing happening at St. Joe's. We can watch students going to dinner at extremely early hours, often times as early as 4:30 or 5:00. Another strange thing is that many of these students are not even hungry when they go. Why? Because by the time that many students begin to feel like dinner, the cafeteria is closed. On weekends, the Hawk's Nest closes at 6:30. Often, the food begins to be cleared up even before then. For students used to eating at 7:00 or later, like they can on weekdays, this represents a big change.
What makes this awkward schedule even worse on weekends is the fact that many students do not even eat their first meal until 1:00 or later. For these students especially, the "dinner" in the Hawk's Nest become more of a snack, reducing the usefulness of a full meal plan. These students must then eat their real dinner later on, either paying from their declining balance for a meal from the downstairs cafeteria or eating a prepared meal in their room. Neither of these options can be used on weekends with the included meals on the meal plans. This practice of eating one meal in the early evening and then another, usually less healthy one later at night also can lead to a less balanced diet. Macaroni and cheese at 11:00 in one's room does not make for a healthy meal.
Dining Service officials should have anticipated this situation for students who sleep in; if students were not supposed to eat brunch in the afternoon, then why offer it? The situation should have been anticipated and dealt with. The lack of any included meal after 6:30 on weekends just makes most students' schedules more awkward.
Another strange facet of the meal plan on weekends is that, there is no meal equivalency from the downstairs cafeteria. Everything must be paid for from declining balance. This further reduces options for students who cannot make it to the earlier dinner in the Hawk's Nest. There is no good reason to deny students the opportunity for meal equivalencies - if it is possible on weekdays, it should also be possible on weekends.
To rectify this situation, the Dining Services office should extend the Hawk's Nest weekend hours to 8:30, the same time as during the week. Additionally, it would only make sense for students to be able to use meal equivalencies at Quiznos or at the Hawk Wrap station - again, like they can on weekdays. To make one set of schedules for one part of the week and another for the weekend just does not make sense. It is confusing and unnecessary and it should change.
What makes this awkward schedule even worse on weekends is the fact that many students do not even eat their first meal until 1:00 or later. For these students especially, the "dinner" in the Hawk's Nest become more of a snack, reducing the usefulness of a full meal plan. These students must then eat their real dinner later on, either paying from their declining balance for a meal from the downstairs cafeteria or eating a prepared meal in their room. Neither of these options can be used on weekends with the included meals on the meal plans. This practice of eating one meal in the early evening and then another, usually less healthy one later at night also can lead to a less balanced diet. Macaroni and cheese at 11:00 in one's room does not make for a healthy meal.
Dining Service officials should have anticipated this situation for students who sleep in; if students were not supposed to eat brunch in the afternoon, then why offer it? The situation should have been anticipated and dealt with. The lack of any included meal after 6:30 on weekends just makes most students' schedules more awkward.
Another strange facet of the meal plan on weekends is that, there is no meal equivalency from the downstairs cafeteria. Everything must be paid for from declining balance. This further reduces options for students who cannot make it to the earlier dinner in the Hawk's Nest. There is no good reason to deny students the opportunity for meal equivalencies - if it is possible on weekdays, it should also be possible on weekends.
To rectify this situation, the Dining Services office should extend the Hawk's Nest weekend hours to 8:30, the same time as during the week. Additionally, it would only make sense for students to be able to use meal equivalencies at Quiznos or at the Hawk Wrap station - again, like they can on weekdays. To make one set of schedules for one part of the week and another for the weekend just does not make sense. It is confusing and unnecessary and it should change.
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