The Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee announced at its meeting Monday that it will not support the University’s “directed choice” dining proposal and urged administrators to consider alternatives.
The proposal, announced last month, requires students to spend 500 to 700 of their food points at non-contracted venues serviced by Bon Appétit Management Company, such as Marketplace and The Great Hall.
DUSDAC maintained that the proposal did little to solve the long-term cost issues in the Duke Dining system.
“The most important thing, as we’re waiting for administrators to deliver that final plan for our feedback, is that we continue to advocate for the student body’s wallets and taste buds,” said junior Alex Klein, DUSDAC co-chair and The Chronicle’s online editor. “Students will not accept a fate of directed choice, nor any other plan that seeks to treat vendors differently from one another.”
Last month, Duke Student Government President Awa Nur criticized the directed choice program proposal.
DUSDAC also introduced a draft of the menu for the new Central Campus eatery, which will be located in the space previously held by Uncle Harry’s General Store. This venue will be serviced by Bon Appétit Management Company.
The menu features a variety of breakfast dishes, soups, sandwiches, burgers and pizzas, as well as late-night selections available until midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
“My understanding is that [the restaurant] will be a cross between the Great Hall and the Faculty Commons,” said DUSDAC co-Chair Jason Taylor, a senior. “I think it’ll be a fun destination that we’ll all be curious to check out. After the novelty wears off, I think Central Campus students will use it much more. It provides good balance for Central.”
The eatery is on schedule to open next month, administrators have previously said.
In other business:
DUSDAC plans to suggest changes to the Merchants on Points program, but plans to do further research until discussing with administrators. The committee will evaluate which vendors should be subject to cuts and alterations, and hopes to give recommendations by the end of the academic year.
The committee also discussed details about its Berry Tripping” event, which will be held in the Bryan Center next Thursday. Students will be able be able to sample food after their taste buds are altered by small red berries called miracle fruit.
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