New university cafeteria system draws heat

Changes to George Martin Hall’s cafeteria prevent students without meal cards from entering unless they pay a flat fee. Despite the changes Wyn Gruffydd with Food Services says any discomfort is temporary.

“We were the last hold out that didn’t move to the all-you-can-eat system,” said Gruffydd. “(Now students) can come browse and eat what they want … They don’t have to worry about money.”

The new system is all-you-can-eat based, where students swipe their meal cards or pay for each entry into the cafeteria and then can eat until their heart’s content.

The way the cafeteria is set-up has also changed.

The Grill now serves only one menu item for each of the meals of the day. The wrap station has also decreased its daily menu size, and there is a breakfast area to get waffles and fruit.

Each meal card now comes with 500 flex dollars which can be used at other locations on campus.

Gruffydd said he’s happy about how the transition between systems is going, and says he believes the food has even improved.

“We’re very very happy,” said Gruffydd.

Gruffydd said one of the problems they saw students run into repeatedly in years prior was not budgeting their meal card money, running out and having to call their parents asking for more. He says this system should help prevent that.