More comfortable seating and rearranging televisions in dining halls were among ideas tossed around Tuesday at a public meeting to discuss the upcoming mandatory meal plan.
The meal plan would require all students living in University housing to purchase a meal plan for campus dining facilities.
Aimee Gipper, head of the 10-member student meal plan committee, said the goals of the meeting were to discuss the meal plan proposal approved by the Arizona Board of Regents, operation hours of dining facilities, menus, costs, plan options and obtain student input.
"If we want to change something [about the meal plan proposal], there's already been talk about making a smaller plan," Gipper said.
"We're trying to continue those discussions," she said.
Becky Hornack, communications coordinator for student development and Memorial Union, said the committee wants student input since they will be the ones required to purchase the meal plans.
"We want to create multifunctional use within dining space -- kind of like in the [Memorial] Union, be it open mic night, tutoring, performance art, student organizations and clubs, etc.," Hornack said.
Mike Matthies, contract and food service project manager for Student Affairs, said discussions for the meal plan include renovation of dining hall facilities.
Renovations could include adding a pizza parlor to Palo Verde Main, adding a salad/sandwich venue to Sahuaro Hall and a Boba tea franchise to the MU.
Matthies said Student Affairs is trying to include healthier food options with fresher foods, vegetarian and vegan options in the new meal plan.
The meeting also included discussion of the upcoming McAllister Academic Village, scheduled to open in fall 2007.
McAllister will have 1,928 beds and will include a grill, pizza/panini station and a euro kitchen.
McAllister will also have a more modern look than other residence halls and dining facilities. It will include movie screens, movie projectors and banquet seating.
Reach the reporter at jourdan.rassas@asu.edu.
