The Observer, October 13, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 7
Spartan to offer late-night dining alternative
Students craving a late-night weekend food run may have more incentive to go out and do it this month.
The Silver Spartan Diner is implementing a trial program that will expand the dining options of students on the meal plan.
For October only, the diner is allowing students one meal swipe per week on select meal bundles from 5 p.m. to close.
"The program was initiated as an effort to improve late-night options and satisfaction for students," said Dan Farrell, District Manager of Bon Appétit.
Some of the main entrées in the meal bundles include Mac & Cheese, Grilled Cheese, Chubby Burgers, and Italian Breakfast Subs. All of the bundles include a main entrée, a side, and a drink.
The Silver Spartan originally offered one $5 meal swipe a week before Bon Appétit took over food operations on campus.
Bon Appétit pulled out of the Silver Spartan Diner and allowed a new food operator to take over, Aunt Elaine's.
Under the new food operator, the meal swipe plan for students was eliminated for financial and business reasons.
However, many officials in RHA and Campus Services feel that the meal swipe program should be reintroduced permanently.
Richard Jamieson, Vice President of Campus Services, had the idea to reintroduce the one meal swipe per week option.
"Reintroduction of the Diner Swipe program was initiated to provide an additional late night option, thus effectively extending the meal plan dining hours," said Jamieson.
"Bon Appétit agreed to a trial period of October to see how this option would be received and because of the financial implications of sharing meal swipes with the Diner," said Farrell.
"Students perpetually feel that they are being slighted by being forced to be on the meal plan for two years. A little consolation was having another option available that essentially 'cost nothing' to the student," President of RHA Douglas Bentley said.
Cost is an important factor for students on the meal plan deciding where to eat.
Sophmore Nesrene Choujaa said, "I don't go there because you have no other choice but to pay. I'm poor enough as it is. . .That's probably why not many people go there now – why pay for a meal when you have a bunch of meal swipes you never use anyway?"
Bon Appétit effectively cut out the Diner swipe once they took over food services on campus, allowing another company to take over the Spartan. While students were enjoying more food service options for no extra cost, Bon Appétit was losing money on the extra service. The diner was not financially profitable.
"[Bon Appétit's] specialty is in dining hall management and service, not diner service. There is a much different dynamic managing either of those things," said Bentley.
Student response to the October trial has been mostly favorable, with many expressing a wish that the program be extended indefinitely.
"I actually think the idea is great. I am not a frequenter of the Silver Spartan, but I know of some people who are. It would probably benefit them as well as people who want to take a break from the Leutner and L3, especially freshman who have only three places (including Fribley) to choose from.. It would be nice to have this as an all-year option," said sophmore Perry Evangelista.
Sophmore Vince Leone said, "I think the concept is a great idea, but I'm a little less than thrilled with the meal bundles. I wish they would create some diverse meals instead of the same things students can get at Leutner."
If the student response and participation is positive to the meal swipe program, Campus Services will consider its potential as a mainstay of campus dining.
