<p>Well, I just came back from the BRW visit with my sophomore son. All is pretty well with him but his big DU complaint is the qualitative decline in the dorm food, which, although not great last year, was apparently at least more palatable. Eating at Huffman, where there is no longer a lunch entree or main dish, is definitely a negative difference from last year. He also was disappointed by the decline in taste and preparation of ingredients.
I brought this up at the coffee with the President and personally was a bit disappointed because his response was almost an avoidance measure. (i.e., haven't heard that at all)
I phrased my question in the framework of asking where students could take their concerns with the decline. His eventual answer was a student govt. committee or the suggestion boxes in the dining halls. Immediately after the coffee, the director of Residence Life came over to me and we discussed the issue more responsively. Several other parents at that time and later in the day concurred that their students were disappointed in the food as well.
SO, if your student is experiencing this same sad phenomena, I would encourage them to let their concerns be known either to the student govt. committee or at least in the suggestion boxes, using specific comments ( not just saying that "it stinks" or some variation of that sentiment)</p>
<p>The lack of variation in the dining hall food was one reason DD1 was happy to get a suite this year with her friends. She is one of the main cooks for the group. I dropped this info to her to contribute her opinion to the dining hall/student gov’t.</p>
<p>My D (2013) has never been fond of the food at DU. She does “meal exchange” at least five times a week, I think, and that helps somewhat. </p>
<p>But she thinks the food is somewhat better this year … still, when we are there, she doesn’t suggest that we eat in the dining hall … and when she is home she always laments how she misses home cooking. </p>
<p>D1’s college also had Sodexo, and that’s one of the main reasons she got an apartment her junior/senior years. She was just much happier being able to provide her own meals.</p>
<p>Apparently Sodexo has different levels that schools can select from. We are thinking that maybe Denison either downgraded or perhaps chose to not absorb a price increase. My son lives and eats typically at Huffman. Even Mr. Fox, the Res Life director or Dean was a bit put off that Sodexo didn’t offer any sort of hot meal at lunch time (which is what we in the true Midwest call Dinner).
My son was on the 15 meal plan, I believe, and he now plans on downgrading that as far as it will go next semester. My concern is that he will end up eating more junk food types of things. He claims that sandwiches are about all that is even palatable at the dining hall anyway. Really this is not a kid that is a particularly picky eater either. I just feel that if they require a meal plan, it least ought to be edible.
Interestingly, Sodexo did a real bang up job with the hors"deurves at the faculty reception and at the muffins and such at the President’s coffee. I know they can do it if they spend the $ and time! At any rate, trying to effect change is a good lesson for students. Hopefully the efforts can effect some results.</p>
<p>My D said that the students look forward to BRW because they know the food will be better. </p>
<p>I’m pretty sure that D rarely eats the main/standard entrees offered (she does eat a big breakfast). She did say that she eats a lot of cereal …</p>
<p>My sophomore D also echoed this concern about the limited selections and the decline in quality of the food this year. She was particularly concerned about the lack of vegatables!</p>
<p>Mine’s a senior and hearing my student’s concerns over the seasons, I’ll pile on. Room and board are not major priorities of DU, clearly. Mine’s not picky either, but the word is chronically …“bad.” I’m beginning to believe it. However, it was noted at BRW that there are some new alternative eateries on campus.</p>
<p>It seems one of the by-products of attending a highly selective college with ample apps …there is little inclination to react to such concerns. If it’s not academic and impacting faculty, it’s not a prioritiy concern. Even if you, me and ours may think so. I respect and appreciate much of what I’ve observed about the top administration (beyond the Provost’s enamourment with Keynesian economics? I hope he’s watching Ohio economics and how his state and students are benefitting from such. :eek:), but it’s eminently clear that beyond moving the model toward a research-based, publish-or-perish some refereed journal articals type institution, concerns and issues like dorm rooms and chow lines are not of any major concern.</p>