New year, new meal plan

The Sophomore Class Cabinet proposed new options for the meal plan to the Quinnipiac administration, and thanks to these students their classmates now have four new options for meal plans in Fall 2009.

The plans proposed were called the Bobcat, which is $980.00, the Blue and Gold, which is $1125.00 and the Legend at $1250.00. The approved plan has four options - Boomer, Bobcat, Blue and Gold and the Legend. These plans do not affect Q-Cash at all, and still roll over from semester to semester. Once the cafeteria at York Hill is completed, and also the one in North Haven, students will have the freedom to use these plans at all three campuses.

Sophomore class representatives Daniel Dempsey and Louis Venturelli both worked on different aspects of the proposal. The student representatives began working on this plan in October and it was approved in February. They began by surveying 100 students, through surveymonkey.com, to determine an appropriate price for each plan.

"Our meal plan was very low, which we are proud of as it lowers room and board, but we needed to grow with the times, and students will most likely appreciate the convenience of this new budget. It will allow them to save money, if they choose, or spend more through tuition if they need it," Venturelli said.

According to John Meriano, associate vice president for administrative services, the University is still trying to determine how to present the plans. The extra amount will be included in room and board, but as Meriano said, "there are different payment options available and we need to determine which will not only be easy for the parent/student but will also interface with our systems."

According to Venturelli some students seem to be upset by the Boomer plan, as this plan requires students living in York Hill, Complex and Hill, dorms with kitchens, to purchase a meal plan.

"The Boomer plan is being implemented because we found that many apartment students use the dining halls regularly and with three campuses opening this allows students the flexibility of use the plan in these locations," Meriano said.

Another concern of students, according to Venturelli, is whether or not prices will now increase as a result of extra money on the meal plan.

"Chartwells prices need to be approved at the beginning of each fiscal year, and if they go up they are only allowed to increase 4% each year, but this is not something we know yet," Venturelli said. "In this financial climate, these plans are designed to help students who cannot afford to put cash on their Q-Cards, now they can add it into their loans."