After almost seven months of operation, the Marketplace on East Campus has been criticized by some freshmen due to the inflexibility of the new mandatory board plan, while others say that they enjoy eating there.
Many students have complained about having to pay for meals at the same place everyday regardless of whether they actually eat there or not.
"I think it's a rip-off because we have to pay before we go," said Trinity freshman John Mack. "There is no variety. Twelve meals a week at the same place is insane," said Mack, who eats at the Marketplace only three times a week.
Dining officials have responded to such complaints by investigating possible changes for next year. Wes Newman, senior director of dining and special events, said that one possible change to the Marketplace would be to allow for more guest meals. Under the current plan, freshmen have only two guest meals per semester. A guest meal is an extra meal that is included into the plan so that freshmen will be encouraged to bring guests to dinner. Other than this, officials expect no major changes to be implemented.
Newman cited high attendance as one reason for keeping the meal plan as it is.
"Our overall attendance at all meals averaged together is approximately 66 percent," he said. "Our peak dinner meals at nearly 85 percent attendance have provoked astonishment among food service people at other universities, who very rarely see dinner attendance higher than 60 to 65 percent on any given night," he said.
Trinity freshman Lauren Rothenberg, a member of the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee, said that DUSDAC planned on passing out a survey last night at the Marketplace to address concerns with the meal plan.
One of the issues that the survey will look into is the possibility of freshmen eating some of their meals on West, she said.
Engineering freshman John Cocker, however, who eats only three meals a week at the Marketplace, said that he would like to see the Marketplace operate on the same points system that upperclassmen currently enjoy. "I think people will still eat there if they have a choice," Cocker said. "The food is good most of the time, it's just the repetition of eating there," he said.
One way that the Marketplace could increase the flexibility of the freshman meal plan would be to attract more upperclassmen to the Marketplace, said Trinity senior Michelle Kenna. "I think they need to draw more upperclassmen over there to eat, and I think the prices are keeping them away," she said.
While the Marketplace operates on a points system for all students during lunch, upperclassmen must pay a fixed rate for dinners, which for some is more expensive than eating on West.
Aside from any possible changes next year, the Marketplace has undergone several changes this year, in response to student input. During the year, the Marketplace has extended its breakfast hours and added an ice cream machine, potato bar, wok-your-own stir fry, waffle makers, and real glassware and utensils.
While some freshmen complain about the repetition of eating on East, many freshmen enjoy the camaraderie which the Marketplace allows. "I am sad that it won't be like this next year," said Trinity freshman Miriam Jacob.
"I like the freshman bonding experience. The food is good. If you go with people you like, it's fine," she said.
Trinity freshman Danny Swanson said that the food is among the best on campus. "I'll probably come back here next year some time," he said.
Perhaps one of the most important benefits that the Marketplace has brought to East Campus is a sense of cohesion among freshmen, said Kenna, who has been a resident adviser for two years on East.
Kenna said that last year, when she was an RA in Jarvis, a lot of freshmen used to eat in their room or cook in the kitchen. "There's definitely a huge difference just in terms of bonding, in terms of just people going to eat at the Union," Kenna said.
Engineering senior Pascal Phares, an RA in Brown, agreed with Kenna. "I've noticed a more general feeling of cohesion which was similar to my freshman year when I lived on North Campus," Phares said.
Newman acknowledged students' concerns with the board plan, but emphasized that the meal plan is what keeps the Marketplace open. "Students are not satisfied with the requirement of a 12-meal plan, but that's to be expected," Newman said. "We continue to hear that students would much rather have the flexibility to eat whenever and wherever they want. Without the 12-meal plan, however, the construction and operation of a dining facility like the Marketplace wouldn't be possible," he said.
"You have to keep things in perspective," said Trinity freshman David Dowdy. "I think the Marketplace is a good thing, except that we're forced to eat there. But if we had to eat somewhere at Duke, that's the place."
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