Last semester, the North Wind staff went to the Wildcat Den after stressful Friday meetings to relax, laugh, and be ourselves without the burden of what we might have done wrong in that week’s paper. It was a chance for us to be more than coworkers. We became friends with the same passions and learned a lot about each other during those lunches.
Unfortunately this semester, weekly get-togethers at the Den aren’t really an option. With the new all-you-can-eat mandate, we don’t make enough money (nor have the appetite) for such a huge meal. Our staff opts out of having to pay $7.95 for a Den lunch when previously they could have purchased just a grilled cheese for little more than three dollars.
The change was made in order to prevent theft from the Den, as previously people were easily walking out with food in hand. While, understandably, this is a problem that has to be rectified, there must be a way to prevent theft without forcing people to pay for an all-you-can-eat meal. This change has completely changed the dynamic of the dining facility, turning the once informal and easy eatery into an exclusive cafeteria, a place that reminds me of times I prefer to forget, like high school or living in the dorms.
Admittedly, the North Wind did run an editorial in the summer edition stating that Dining Services made a good decision in making the switch. Now, fully realizing the consequences of this change, I have to disagree with that. The promises that Dining Services made are not being delivered. The bookstore cart’s options pale in comparison with the Den’s variety. Every time I have been to the bookstore, the person working the cart is standing in a corner looking incredibly bored.
The University Center is a unique building on campus because it attracts a variety of people from throughout the university and community. The change in the Den makes the eatery in this versatile building less inviting.
No longer can people go to the Den to relax and do homework with friends or meet up with a professor to discuss their performance in class; now, the only way would involve forking over $7.95 instead of just enjoying a coffee in the middle of the day.
Charging on-campus students so much for a meal is one thing, especially when oftentimes they must have meal plans that make the day-to-day cost a little easier. But professors, staff and even off-campus residents who frequent the University Center should be trusted enough to purchase what they like and only that. It feels as though Dining Services is alienating the very people the Den once catered to.
Last week, after our staff’s first Friday meeting of the semester, I encouraged the new editors to come down to the Den for a quick meal, and all of them declined, not having the money. It’s disappointing seeing the dynamic of our staff and the U.C.’s eateries changing so frivolously. I hope Dining Services can find a way to eliminate theft without charging me $7.95 for a grilled cheese.
NMU alumnus • Sep 8, 2010 at 10:02 pm
As I recall from my days as NMU Den frequenter, students used the “All You Can Eat” meal plan to steal food from the den, not the other way around. It’s a lot easier to sneak out an extra cheeseburger on an “All You Can Eat” pass than it is to hide one under your shirt. A lot of people were putting food on their trays for more than one person, but paying a one person price. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Den saw an even higher loss in food by switching over. Although, if you can no longer enter the den without swiping your card or paying for the meal, then I guess they’re all set.
sport • Sep 8, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Just more of a reason to eat at Temaki and Tea or even Fiera’s. Although the general public doesn’t know where T&T is and may not want to venture to a place out of the way, myself and the general public would like to say “thanks a lot” to all who are guilty of smuggling food out.
Ryan • Sep 7, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Great article Lucy! The reason people complain so much is Dining Services doesn’t care what students think they just do regardless of what we think.
Crystal • Sep 3, 2010 at 4:06 am
I was shocked when I found out the hard way that the Den switched to “all you can eat”. I am very disappointed that the Den crossed over. I refuse to pay 7.00 for “all you can eat”, when all I want is a slice or 2 of pizza. I favor the “a la cart” version of the Den because I am always on the go and I never have time to sit down and shovel in as much as possible. When the Den was an “a la cart” menu, it was very convenient for me, so that I could Grab&Go! I do appreciate that Fieras is “a la cart”, although it is not as convenient when I’m not on that side of campus.
Frank • Sep 2, 2010 at 11:33 pm
Honestly, the food is good considering the massive quantities of students they have to serve here at NMU. In comparison to schools like Michigan Tech., who don’t have award winning chefs that win gold and in national conceptions, the food is pretty good. Also, if you don’t like the food I’m pretty sure you are able submit recipes on http://meet.nmu.edu/dining//?p=recipe.
In regards to Cafe Libri I would be bored too if I had to come in everyday and deal with the student body of NMU coming in a complaining about school and how awful the food selection is. I’m sure if enough students were to e-mail Dining Services and expressed in a polite manner what types of food that they would prefer to see on Cafe Libri’s menu they would be more than happy to reconsider what they serve to fit your needs. Cafe Libri is just as relaxing of a spot as the Den is to get a cup of coffee and do some homework. Granted it is small inside the book store, but if you e-mail Dining Services and tell them that they need more tables outside of the bookstore they will accommodate your needs.
If you feel alienated and you want Dining Services to change back to A la carte you need to make sure that your friends and other students stop breaking the rules by taking food out of the Den. It’s partially because of the students who break the rules why prices keep inflating. Though Dining Services was put on the campus of NMU to serve the students they as an establishment must put themselves first to keep themselves funded in order to stay open.
Believe it or not Dining Services is always more then willing to work out inconvenience when it comes to students dining on campus. When students/ faculty don’t communicate to with Dining Services about problems that they have with food or with the establishment itself then nothing will change.
d • Sep 2, 2010 at 9:46 am
worst part about it is that the food quality hasn’t improved at all and neither has their selection at the den. Plus now, it is virtually impossible to find a clean table. I hate it! and have you been to one of these new food stands they put around campus. Talk about poor quality! Aren’t there food laws about how long something is aloud to stay in a warmer or under a light? At least all fast food joint have to abide by some rules considering food in a warmer. But it appears to me that the food at these stands stay in the warmer all day and their is no rotation. the entire change seems extremely inefficient.