The Food Curtain

OXFORD- Ole Miss students have had their problems with the current dining services in the past. From sub-par entrees to over-priced beverages, the students here on campus will always complain.

The University’s Student Union is currently under renovation and no staff members were willing to discuss what exactly we will see when the curtains drop in a few weeks to reveal the “new” food court to the student body.

However, there is one aspect of campus dining that continues to be the biggest flaw in our university dining system. The same complaints year-to-year about meal plan options are always the most discussed between students.

“I just don’t want to pay for 300 meals when I barely use 30 a semester,” said University of Mississippi student Richard Henley. “It is a huge waste of money that I could rather be spending on more valuable things than food,” Henley said.

“Our meal plans are very convenient and easy. They all go on our student ID and charge per meal,” said Tyler Bowland, a student from similar Southeastern Conference University. “After hearing about ya’lls meal plan system I feel thankful to not have to deal with that and losing me and my family money,” said Bowland.

All three options for the mandatory meal plans range between $819-$1199. Deciding on which plan you choose, it will include either 100, 150, or 200 meals. The current meal plan has not offered any other options for years.

However, for the first time in recent years, there will be an additional meal plan option. The newly available option is a “green” approach to meal plans. This is not a new, individual meal plan, but it is more of an optional addition for meal plans.

The new meal plan addition will only cost $30 and buyers will receive an organic T-shirt, an Ole Miss Nalgene bottle, and a tote bag. The biggest perk to this meal plan upgrade is that if a student has their Ole Miss Nalgene bottle, they get discounted drinks on campus, which will really save anyone some money.

The Ole Miss Dining Service is slowly, but surely making arrangements to please as many students as possible with its new renovations and minor meal plan option. Hopefully, when the curtains fall in the union students will be satisfied.

Sources:

Richard Henley

University of Mississippi Student

Phone: 601-826-1544

Email: rchenley@olemiss.edu

Jonathan Parker
Food Services Director
Phone: 662-915-6690
Email: parker-jonathan@aramark.com

Tyler Bowland

University of Tennessee Knoxville Student

Phone: 865-850-8926

Email: lbowland@utk.edu