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As the Fall 2021 semester gets underway, students at Champlain College are flustered and confused by the strict policies the IDX dining hall has about bringing food outside the cafeteria, causing teachers to reach out in confusion as to why students are struggling to fit meals into their class schedules.
Students often find themselves with little time to grab lunch or dinner in between their classes and are asked not to take food out of the IDX. Oftentimes students who attempt to do so are stopped by IDX staff and told that it is against policy to take to-go meals.
An alternate option for food on the go is to order from EATS, a Sodexo -run cafe on campus that generally has a broader range of food to pick from. However, to get food from EATS, students have to use their own money to pay, instead of using their meal plans.
When asked if she's ever been successful in taking a meal out of the dining hall, first-year student Kennedy Sloan said, “The few times I've tried grabbing a piece of pizza, or grilled cheese, I've been yelled at to stay in the hall with my food; even though I wasn't using a plate or silverware.”
Math professor Michael Weinberg emailed the director of the Champlain Sodexo operation, Jonathan Barzensky, with these concerns, and was left with this message. “Each student on the Carte Blanche meal plan has $150 in Residential Flex included in their meal plan for these specific situations.” Even with $150 given to students with meal plans, EATS is generally a pricy way to eat, and would only supply students with sufficient food for about ten to fifteen meals.
Though the IDX never gave a specific reason for their strict policies, first-year Chloe Cator gave her suspicions as to why these regulations are upheld. “I understand why the dining hall staff would be hesitant on this subject, due to students maybe taking silverware or plates from the hall; or if students were sharing food with students without a meal plan.”
As more Champlain students find themselves with stacked schedules and no time for meals, a solution seems to be out of reach. With little time between classes, and out-of-pocket pay to get meals at EATS, students are struggling to maintain a healthy three-meal-a-day routine.
Written By Cody Linen
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