The tension has been building for on campus students in regards to the implementation of Flexfunds, a restriction of the amount of money spent in the Union. But last night a group of students and administrators met to talk about possible suggestions to better the situation.
Gail Finan, director of Dining Services and Linda Newman, executive director of Residence Life and Dining Services, led the round table discussion. They said Dining Services is welcoming ideas from students.
“We can gripe all night about Flexfunds,” Newman said. “Suggestions are what we came for.”
Administrators do sympathize with students, Finan said. “We feel your pain,” she said. “We plan on fixing things.”
And with those comments the suggestions came flowing out of the 30 students present at the discussion.
Because the minimum meal plan only allows $75 to be spent at the Union, many students said they want more options at the residential hall dining centers.
Shelley Bylica, a senior, said she is very health conscious and feels vegetarian food is hard to find.
“The quality is not where it has been in the past,” Bylica said. “For me it is not the question of where I can eat, but what can I eat?”
In response to this suggestion, both Newman and Finan said they would talk to the different people in the dining halls in order to offer healthier food, including fresh produce and wheat pasta.
Many students, including senior Matt Lyons, want a coffee shop outside of the Union because coffee at The Carnation Café is included in Flexfunds. Lyons proposed opening a coffee and light sandwich shop in Olscamp Hall.
Student support for this idea was high and Newman and Finan said they would look into it.
Many students asked if places like Towers, Silver River Café, the GT Sandwich Shop and Shadows Snack Bar would be reopened. Finan announced that Shadows and the GT Sandwich Shop would be open when students return from fall break on Oct. 13.
Other suggestions included making the Black Swamp Pub into an Internet café and allowing regular meal plan dollars to work at the Bowling Greenery.
Also, the status of current negotiations with Subway and Starbucks was discussed.
According to Finan, the deal with Subway is almost complete and administrators hope to have it running in Commons when students begin spring semester this year.
Negotiations with Starbucks are in preliminary stages, Finan said.
But even if Dining Services purchases franchises from Subway and Starbucks, money will not necessarily come rolling in, Newman said.
“There just isn’t a lot of money to make in dining services,” Newman said. “We have to balance a budget … we felt Flexfunds would have the least impact on all students. But we are always listening for more options.”
