Decent Food Comes at a Price

By Broadside Correspondent Kevin Loker.

Cashiers at the newest dining facility are hearing more “bumps” in the expected stream of meal plan. In correlation to Southside’s well-received upgrade from Ciao Hall, more of the university’s on-campus students feeding themselves in the cafeteria setting tend to be using Freedom.

“Southside has a fan base,” said Jerry Baugh, Director of Mason’s All University Card, “Now they really want to go to the dining hall.”

Baugh attributes much of this shift to the greater appeal of Southside over Ciao Hall to Mason students on the whole. The combination of “going green” with the trays, the implementation of Executive Chef Peter Schoebel and the overall presentation of “cafeteria food” does not just appeal to those with a meal plan. Instead, it appeals to everyone. Mason students tend to agree.

“I like it better than Ciao because it seems more sophisticated, like an actual three star restaurant versus a typical university dining hall,” said freshman global affairs major Nicholas O’Boyle.

What some students are finding to be a problem, however, is that while it looks like a restaurant, it still acts as a dining hall.

“What students need to remember is that the meal plan with meals is aimed at students who intend to eat in the dining hall,” said Baugh. “Freedom is aimed at the students who would often eat at places like the Johnson Center, who would hardly ever step into the dining hall.”

That is becoming more and more obvious to students who both have Freedom plans and frequent the meal plan-oriented Southside. Though the price of $5.95 for breakfast, $7.85 for lunch and $8.95 for dinner do provide an all-you-can-eat meal the cost does add up.

“It gets kind of expensive,” said junior communication major Brenda Shepherd.

But so does food in general. Depending on choice, students who dine at the Johnson Center can face similar prices to Southside.

For a lunch, a 12-inch Ultimate Bacon Ranch Combo from Sub Connection runs at $7.09—a price $0.76 less than the lunch at Southside. From La Vincita, however, a Daily Specialty Pizza and a milk is a little more, costing students with Freedom $7.88—a price $0.03 more than the lunch at Southside.

“When Southside first opened I thought it was ridiculous they were charging like $8.95,” said freshman art and visual technology major Emily Flores. “But I think it balances out for how much the plans actually cost.”

The prices for the plans themselves are comparable. The price for a Flex 15 Meal Plan, where 15 meals are allotted each week, is $1,500. A Freedom Rings plan, where there is a declining dollar value, is only slightly more: $1,550.
“To be honest, I like having Freedom, because the Johnson Center can be more convenient to get to between classes,” said Flores. “That option’s nice, but that doesn’t mean I won’t ever go to Southside. I actually go a lot. It definitely has its perks.”

Richard Malebranche, a junior majoring in information technology, who has a Freedom plan, says moderation is key. “I plan for [food] being expensive,” said Malebranche. “I did the math and figured out I could go [to Southside] once a day.”

Baugh encourages all students to evaluate their eating habits, especially with the new addition of Southside. “Don’t ever hesitate to go and be walked through [the differences in meal plans],” said Baugh. “Get the plan that fits you, not one your buddy wants.”