UA advocates dining changes

The Undergraduate Assembly passed a proposal on Sunday supporting improvements in food quality, variety and service at on-campus dining halls.

The UA hopes to collaborate with Penn Dining and food service provider Aramark to make a number of changes throughout the semester and in the future that will create more competition with popular retail locations and encourage students to take advantage of on-campus dining options.

"By increasing options, we have greater potential to suit students' more sophisticated tastes and preferences," UA member and Wharton junior Cynthia Wong said.

After complaints regarding the lack of health conscious options from a group of freshmen sorority pledges attending the meeting, the UA added the expansion of vegetarian and vegan options to the proposal.

Penn Dining will also be exploring organic agricultural sources in order to support local farming and satisfy student demand for these foods.

Another change the UA seeks an increase in the variety of cereal, fruit and ice cream as well as the availability of options at self serve stations.

They also hope to create a rotation cycle so that the menu varies for at least four to six weeks at a time.

Ensuring that milk, fruits and vegetables are properly stocked, hot food doesn't run out and taste quality remains consistent are other priorities.

The UA also requests that the express dining option in McClelland Hall open their services on the weekends and dining halls and Triangle Diner extend hours to accommodate student eating habits.

After the popularity of theme nights such as Super Bowl night and Valentine's Day, more themed night may also be created.

"This proposal provides momentum to place students feedback into the laps of those who can implement and change dining here at Penn," UA member and College freshman Jason Karsh said. "We're seeing these changes as we speak."

Although the majority of these changes may be seen this semester, other meal plan projects are more long term.

The UA would like to give students the option to convert meals into dining dollars and vice versa and carry over unused meals from one year to the next.

Plans for upperclassmen to create a dining dollar only meal plan and the option to choose the number of meals with a 20 meal per semester minimum are also in the works.

However, Penn Dining and Aramark are still looking into business models to see if these meal plan options are cost efficient.

The UA is also encouraging collaboration with local restaurants such as the Greek Lady and Q'doba as well as the Restaurant School in order to serve outside food in the dining halls on special occasions.

"This isn't a short term project," UA member and College freshman Kam Moukwa said.

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