By Kassie Bruton
The nationwide rise of food and gas prices has forced MSU to hike dining service rates.
The decision was made in February by the Board of Regents. Meal plans will go up as well the cost of individual meals.
“This next school year, food and beverage cost are expected to be near, if not more than, six percent while fuel is expected to climb closer to $4 a gallon,” said Dail Neely, dean of students.
The 19-meal plan has increased 2.74 percent. This would be a $40 boost from last year. The largest increase, however, will affect students who attend summer classes.
“Summer meal program increase is almost identical to fall and spring,” he said.
“I guess I’m not having a meal plan. First of all $9 is already expensive as it is. Why would I pay $9 when I can go somewhere else and pay cheaper,” said sophomore Erin Loe.
Students without a meal plan will now have to pay over $6 per meal to eat in the dining hall.
Commuters will suffer a small increase when it comes to meal block plans. For 100 meals students will now have to pay $720, which is equivalent to purchasing 100 meals during the lunch hours.
“I have the 100 meal plan so I think that’s kind of ridiculous to pay eight or nine dollars if you only eat one plate of food for one meal,” said sophomore Courtney Nevil.
When making the decision to raise rates, Neely said the department considered the rise in fuel, food, employment cost and environmentally factors such as droughts, food shortages and global demands.
Anonymous • Mar 28, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Students probably wouldn’t actually be worried about the increase in costs, if the quality of the food would match it. I understand that it is all you can eat style buffett, and a lot of students do have multiple plates, but that’s usually one can get a plate of “casserole surprise” take one bite and opt for the ever so safe ham sandwich. Speaking from my experience as student, the cafeteria has always been mediocre at best, and the faculty have constantly turned a blind eye to it. Those that pretend to be concerned deflect complaints by saying that it’s not bad, and students will always complain and whine about something. The faculty can sleep guilt-free at nights because they have the option of a $4 lunch on Friday afternoons, so they only have to eat the swill once a week, and so that’s why it isn’t that bad for them. Whereas students that live in the dorms have to eat it at least lunch and dinner. So I would like to challenge the faculty that claim the cafeteria is perfectly fine to eat in there just as much as a regular student. It won’t happen though because the country club has a lunch buffet for 7 dollars that serves chef-prepared cuisine. Funny that Aramark wants to charge us more than the country club lunch buffett.