After receiving numerous complaints that the Flex plan overcharges students for their meals, an ASG committee will consider alternatives to the plans in early October, leaders said Tuesday.
Associated Student Government Student Services Vice President Courtney Brunsfeld said the annually appointed Residential Dining Services Committee will explore alternatives to the Flex plan, which charges students as much as $7 over the $6.60 meal cost at Willie’s Food Court. Brunsfeld added that although the committee has made important changes in the dining program in past years, the Flex program might be difficult to reform.
“It’s not likely we’ll see changes in the Flex plan that will lower prices from $13 a meal,” said Brunsfeld, a Weinberg junior.
Students who have a $3,067 Flex plan with $684 in Bonus Bucks have 175 meal equivalencies. Each meal equivalency is worth $6.60 at Willie’s, but the actual cost is $13.62 per meal.
The five-student committee will meet with Brunsfeld, Dining Services Director Paul Komelasky and Dana Levit, assistant director of NU’s food service. Brunsfeld said the committee has been responsible for changes such as Kosher food options in the dining halls and at Norris University Center.
Former Dining Services Committee Student Chair Jada Black said lowering prices for students is always a priority for the committee, but food service provider Sodexho-U.S.A. signs its contract with NU before the committee has time to formulate an alternative plan.
“We’ve looked at a lot of meal plans, but they’re caught up in administrative red tape,” said Black, a Medill junior.
Komelasky said administrators have examined the 4-year-old Flex plan, as well as many other dining-plan options.
“I don’t know if this is the right program for Northwestern students today, ” Komelasky said.
Levit said the committee regularly reviews the meal plans to make them better. Brunsfeld said she hears more student complaints about food service than any other issue.
Many students said they didn’t realize the Flex plan overcharges for meal equivalencies.
Committee member and Medill sophomore Matt Kelsey was on the Flex plan last year. He said he will make Flex plan reforms a priority.
Weinberg sophomore Ayse Guvencer said the Flex plan is the only option for students with busy schedules. She said she was not aware of the price discrepancy but will continue using the plan.
“The only reason I got the Flex plan is because I want to eat (at Willie’s) and I got more Bonus Bucks,” Guvencer said. “It’s much more complicated than I thought.”
