The Undergraduate Assembly has called upon the University to take action to improve campus dining.
A new proposal, passed at last night's UA meeting, draws on student-garnered ideas for solutions to dining problems including the quality of food, affordability, hours of service and location.
"The UA sent out an e-mail to the entire student body asking for recommendations on the future structure of the dining system," UA Chairwoman Dana Hork said.
That e-mail survey elicited over 300 detailed student responses which supplied the UA with concepts for the proposal, as well as the reassurance that dining reform is indeed a top priority for Penn students.
The dining proposal was prepared under the supervision of the UA's Student Life Committee, headed by College sophomore Jason Levy.
"The whole point of this proposal... is to cover all of the students' concerns but at the same time to not be something Dining opposes," Wharton freshman and proposal contributor Yelena Gershman said.
Among the topics that the dining resolution details is the need for the option of smaller meals available at cheaper prices. The proposal states that the "Dining Services' all-you-can-eat payment structure suits students with large appetites," but insists that the remainder of the student body needs alternate options.
To satisfy this need, the proposal suggests that a point system -- similar to the current Dining Dollars system -- be implemented in addition to the all-you-can-eat choice within Penn Dining Services.
In effect, each point would be the equivalent of one dollar, and students would be able to select from a variety of points plans prior to each semester. The suggested a-la-carte dining facilities for this plan include Houston Market and the top level of Class of 1920 Commons.
Additional advantages to the point system would be the ability to purchase points in small increments, as well as to give an unlimited number of points to their guests.
Express service is another suggested reform to Penn dining. The UA's proposal outlines the desire for express options including the capability to order dining food over the phone or online.
The hours of operation for campus dining halls are also a concern addressed in the resolution. The UA suggests that the three central dining halls -- Hill, 1920 Commons and Houston Market -- stagger their hours to ensure that at least one of the three establishments is always open between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.
In addition, the group calls for extended weekend hours for brunch to accommodate students' sleeping schedules.
One of the most controversial items on the proposal is the call for an end to required freshmen meal plans.
"It currently costs $2,500 to $3,000 for a meal plan, and a lot of people can't afford it" UA member and Wharton sophomore Andrew Gomez said.
The UA is hoping its proposal will force Dining Services to create less expensive options in place of the current costly required plans for freshmen.
To accomplish this goal, the UA is plans to bring its proposal right to the top of the University administration.
Hork said the UA proposal will be sent to the offices of the Executive Vice President, Business Services and Penn Dining in order "to compliment the research they've done with a current snapshot of student suggestions for dining structure at Penn."
"I'm sure this will reaffirm things they've thought about, and I'm also sure some of this will contradict what they've thought about," she added.
