Student Union (SU) Senate has been actively working to address concerns related to campus food prices and meal plans. In a significant move, senators met with Dining Services administrators to discuss these crucial matters and find potential solutions. The outcome of these discussions holds great importance for the well-being and satisfaction of students.

Uniting Students and Dining Services for a Better Campus Food Experience

Survey Findings and Student Concerns

The dining report, titled “Where is My Money Going? Dining Services Costs and the Effect on Student Well-being,” was based on a survey distributed to the student body through various channels. A notable finding was the widespread dissatisfaction with the quality of meal services, with 96% of the 540 respondents rating the value as “poor” or “very poor” when comparing cost to quality. Over 60% of respondents admitted to skipping meals weekly due to the high cost of meals, indicating a significant impact on their eating habits. Additionally, 95% of respondents reported dining costs as a source of stress, although most described it as “slight” or “moderate.” Furthermore, 69% of respondents said they were likely to run out of meal points this semester.However, 75% of respondents expressed that they would eat on campus more often if prices were lower, presenting an opportunity for Dining Services to encourage on-campus dining. The report also compared dining plans at similar universities like Tulane, Emory, and the University of Chicago. It noted that Tulane’s first-year students receive unlimited meals despite a comparable meal plan cost to WashU’s platinum plan. This led SU Senate to recommend that WashU adopt a similar unlimited meal plan for first-year students. Moreover, a kosher meal plan was urged to benefit students with specific dietary needs.

Dining Administrators' Response and Future Plans

After presenting the survey report, Dining Services administrators addressed the SU representatives. Greg Minner, Executive Director for University Services, mentioned that inflation rates over the past 18 months have posed challenges in setting meal prices. James Dwyer, Vice Chancellor for University Business Services, emphasized that reducing meal prices for the spring semester is the top priority, although the exact prices have not been determined yet. He assured that students' meal points will remain the same, but the value will increase.Both John Ruppert and Minner noted potential changes at Bear’s Den. They are collaborating with the campus nutrition specialist to improve vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free offerings. They also hope to have the salad bar open for lunch next semester and add more affordable meal options at Cherry Tree, such as a potential Taco Tuesday.Regarding the East End, Senator Emaan Sayied asked about expanding food options for students in Sam Fox and McKelvey who are on campus late. Minner said that dining services plans to meet with East End food vendors to discuss extending operating hours, especially during finals and reading week. However, past assessments suggest that there may not be a sufficient student presence to justify a major expansion.Junior and Speaker of the Senate Ella Scott hopes administrators will make adjustments where possible but remains skeptical about the actual decrease in meal prices in the spring semester. Junior and Senator Beni Bisimwa, who co-sponsored the report and is on the Dining Services Advisory Team, appreciated the administrators' receptiveness and believes it is now up to them to improve dining options.Additional reporting was done by Avi Holzman, Tanvi Gorre, and Elizabeth Stump.