I feel I speak for a majority of the student body that graces the medical campus when I say that we are upset by Chartwells imposition of a 10 percent charge on all purchases using Flex Points at Fresh Gatherings Cafe, located in the Allied Health Building.
Due to the fact that I reside off campus, my meal plan only consists of 150 flex points which, as we very well know, doesn’t go very far in the on-campus dining scene. I am already paying 200 dollars for this meal plan, clearly not making my flex points dollar for dollar. Seeing as all of my classes are held across campus, Fresh Gatherings is one of two campus dining options, the other being the cafe located in the new student center.
Fresh Gatherings has always been a favorite of students that have classes over here; the food is from local farmers and made from scratch each day by student employees.
Now, however, my already-limited meal plan is becoming more limited. My 150 flex points will amount to 135 flex points, cheapening my 200-dollar investment even more. The same applies to students who live on campus, even though their meal plans contain a higher sum of flex.
I am unsure if this is a ploy to get students to eat at the new cafe, or if Chartwells wants a hand in this popular dining option, but regardless, I think it is unfair to require the student body to pay a tax just because we aren’t eating the predominant organization’s food.
This action makes me feel like more of a money-maker for the University rather than a student.
– Gabriele Geerts is a junior in the Doisy College of Health Sciences.
DISCLAIMER: The views written in the Letters to The Editor section do not necessarily reflect the views of The University News, nor does The University News take any responsibility of the views stated by those who write to the editor.
SassyGayBilliken • Sep 9, 2011 at 1:44 am
Amen! Preach! Dinning prices are ridiculous on campus, and even worsened by Chart wells and the University never truly providing the calculation of real dollars to flex as well as what goes behind pricing.