Dining Services considers changes thanks to UA survey

and Doree Shafrir Undergraduate Assembly member Samara Barend said she has become increasingly unhappy over the past semester with the quality of the University's Dining Services. And she was certain that other students felt the same way. The College freshman said she informally polled 250 to 300 students to determine their specific complaints about Dining Services. As a result of Barend's action, Dining Services may soon make changes that some students have long called for -- such as new, more flexible options for meal contracts. Although Dining Services conducted its own survey last fall, Barend said she felt it had not addressed certain issues. For her survey, Barend walked around the Stouffer and Hill House dining halls, discussing dining concerns with students. "I compiled all of their complaints and wrote down specifics," she added. According to Barend, students are most unhappy with Stouffer Dining Commons. Her survey noted that students especially noticed that the tables are "deteriorating." "Stouffer is students' first perception of dining," she said. "If people have a good perception of Stouffer, they'll want to continue on meal plan." Barend also suggested decreasing the grease and fat content of the food provided by Dining Services. Dining Services Director William Canney said he is addressing Barend's concerns. "We're presently looking at changes for next year," he said. "We've already added more grilled items, and we use vegetable oil for fried foods. And we're continuing to test recipes." Students also have the option of ordering non-fat eggs at breakfast, he added. And Canney has already begun to implement some of Barend's suggestions. Barend said students also complained to her about the lack of flexibility involved in the meal plans offered. She recommended changing the current system to one where diners could choose any combination of meals a day. Barend said many students want the freedom to eat two lunches and one dinner, instead of three different meals a day. In a memo to Barend, Canney wrote that he is considering an "any seven" and an "any 12" meal plan for students in the fall of 1996. In her survey, Barend recommended a lunch express service that would allow students to "run in and grab a sandwich to go." "People don't always know when they're in a rush," she said. Lunch express service began at Stouffer Monday. According to Canney, about 20 students took advantage of the new plan on the first day. Barend's fellow UA members said they were pleased with her persistence. "It shows?that a member of the UA, if he or she has enough drive and initiative, can get things accomplished on behalf of the student body," UA member and College freshman Marc Cohen said.