There were a lot of changes to the Great Room decided a few months ago that I never reported on due to laziness but the most important one is that you will no longer be able to swipe in friends. This really sucks, a lot. I think this was one of the best ways to foster community on campus.
Swiping - v - The act of purchasing two meal entries into the Great Room with a single student I.D. card. Generally younger students swipe in older students (who have smaller meal plans) or visiting friends/lovers. "Hey...would you mind swiping me in? You have way more 'blocks' than you could ever use."
I know that personally I got smaller meal plans every year, and by my senior year I didn't even get a meal plan. Instead I would rely on younger folks to swipe me in. It was a great system, I get food, and they get to eat with someone old/cool/knowledgeable. I made a few friends this way, and it definitely helped me to bond with the younger members of my club sports team.
In most every society eating is a social activity (anthropology majors back me up, there is even a anthro course that is all about food), and the swipe system really helped to facilitate this. It can be hard for First Years to feel comfortable interacting with seniors, but the simple act of 'swiping' the two are suddenly on the same level, a symbiotic relationship, trading food for booze and parties.
I definitely see Bon Appetit's point of view on this. No one is supposed to actually use all those blocks. That's how they make their money. If everyone buys meal plans that exceed what they plan to eat, then they make a profit. If not, they will probably lose money.
The end of an era. I really wish I was eating in the great room right now (via making your own lunch every day sucks sometimes).
If the administration is serious about improving "community" on campus, then hopefully they will realize that this will only further divide the campus.
Total bullshit. "No one is supposed to actually use all those blocks." That's what Bon Appetit gets for overselling to gullible freshman parents. So what's to become of the wasted blocks now? Will Bon Appetit start issuing refunds or just lining their pockets while upperclassman start forking over cash?
ReplyDeleteJust swipe yourself in, and give your card to someone who is leaving who can then discreetly hand it off to the individual waiting behind the front door. So long as the staff member who is swiping that day doesn't actually keep tabs on who's card is being used, it should circumvent the new rule entirely.
ReplyDeleteBut the issue is that the whole system is different, blocks are gone
DeleteThey started really cracking down on people using other people's One Cards so I doubt that would work. I think it's most annoying since you rarely, if ever, see the Great Room run out of food. It's not like allowing first-years to swipe other people has in some way caused the Great Room to do more work or like the buffet all of the sudden was empty halfway through a meal due to the high level of people getting swiped in. Whatev more food wasted. But, why put all of the blame on Bon App they're just following the greedy examples set forth by the rest of the administration. I mean, when's the last time student's opinions mattered in a decision made at the college? because I'm sure many students had to oppose this change.
ReplyDeletea lot here is not true. swiping friends in is still allowed only not so much of it. also great room will no longer close in between meals but stay open all day. i know this is not investigative journalism but facts can still be useful. also remember if the college has money it gets to do things like give raises build buildings and so forth.
ReplyDeleteDisagree
DeleteNext year the meal plan program is changing, unless if I am mistaken, to a totally new system that does not use blocks or swipes.
It is true that the Great Room is staying open longer, but I did not include that because I don't care. The removal of a tradition is what is key here.
Facts are dumb.
Money for buildings comes directly from the state for specific projects. Furthermore, the money from operating the Great Room goes to Bon Appetit, a contractor, not the school. Raises come from increases in the State's "Block Grant" generally.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOSH
Deletethere are a lot of "traditions" on college campuses nationwide that are actually hazing in disguise ... which is illegal by the way. i knew a number of seniors on campus who intentionally wouldn't purchase meal plans expecting to mooch off of the first-years who may not always feel comfortable saying "no" ... i think this is a great change. good for st. mary's.
ReplyDeleteWhat?
DeleteNo.
Oh come on now. I don't know whether changing this system is a good idea or not (I don't know all the facts), but the old system was definitely, 100%, NOT hazing. No one was "pressuring" anyone. I certainly turned people down when my blocks were running low, and I certainly got turned down by people whose blocks were low. You're also ignoring the fact that under the old system, unless you went to three meals per day, every day (I don't think I knew a single person who did that), it was nigh impossible to run out of blocks.
DeleteUtterly preposterous.
Wait how was this hazing? This doesn't harass or humiliate anyone.
DeleteYou won't be able to hand your card off to someone else because the entire system is changing. It's not based on blocks anymore. It's like how two people can't share a smart card on the DC metro.
ReplyDelete