By: Joe Camarata Photo by: Sarah Underwood
Despite the changes coming to campus with the new dorms this fall, Milligan does not have plans to create different options to the meal plan for at least two years.
Administrators have discussed opening more options to the meal plan besides the single unlimited plan now available for most students. Administrators can’t change meal plan options until 2015 because Milligan is in the middle of a contract with Pioneer Food Services, the company that provides food services on campus.
Prior to 2007, the cafeteria was open 7 to 9 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, 5 to 7 p.m. for dinner and offered three separate meal plan options for students.
In 2007, the administration gave the cafeteria a face-lift and arranged with Pioneer to open the doors from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This change reduced meal plan choices to one option. They made this change so students could have another place on campus to socialize with each other. Now students can come to the cafeteria anytime between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to grab a bite to eat and fellowship.
“One of the issues with changing the meal plan options is that we are in the middle of a seven-year contract with Pioneer,” said Jacqui Steadman, vice president for business and finance. “Any changes that we make are going to have to be worked out with them. It’s not something we negotiate annually.”
Only MSA residents and students who live within a 35-mile radius of campus can opt out of the meal plan, said Kate Anderson, director of residence life and housing.
According to Steadman, administrators have not worked out details that address meal plan options for the new dorms this fall.
“We will know more about this subject in a few weeks,” she said.
The administration will have more detailed information on the new dorms and meal plan options in about a month.
“This doesn’t mean we aren’t going to do anything differently within the next two years,” said Steadman, “I just can’t give you any details right now because we don’t know exactly what we are going to do.”
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