CCSC digests meal plan criticism in first meeting

Student reaction to the new meal plan options will likely be the first issue the Columbia College Student Council tackles this year.

The talk was mostly about food as council members circled up on Sunday night for their first meeting of the year—with musical accompaniment. The disadvantages of moving a piano closer to the Satow Room soon became apparent when an announcement about grounds for impeachment was accompanied by a dramatic instrumental interlude.

The discussion then turned to a flash email poll that CCSC sent to students this week. Respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the new meal plan structure, which has essentially turned Ferris Booth Commons into an official dining hall.

In the self-selecting poll, 150 students responded within 12 hours, submitting 10,000 words—17 pages—of comments.

First-years—who, it should be noted, did not have firsthand experience of the old meal plans—dominated the unscientific poll, accounting for 29 percent of respondents. Another 28 percent were sophomores, another 25 percent juniors, and 18 percent were seniors.

The poll asked students to rate their enthusiasm (or lack thereof) for the old and new plans. About 97 percent approved of last year’s plan, but 60 percent expressed disapproval this year.

Some council members expressed surprise at the rapidness of the responses, but others emphasized the importance of putting the numbers into perspective.

“People who don’t understand it are complaining and afraid of change,” University Senator Alex Frouman, CC ’12, said.

“I don’t understand it either. No one thought the meal plan was good last year,” he said, despite the 97 percent approval rate that the poll showed for last year’s plan. “That’s BS. I don’t trust these people. Columbia students love complaining about stuff.”

Representative Sonya Chandra, CC ’11, added that a self-selecting survey with approximately 150 respondents means only about 40 students from each class gave feedback.

Even so, council members were concerned about what the meal plan changes meant for weekend food options. With John Jay closed on Saturdays, Ferris Booth essentially becomes the only dining hall available, which some say means long waits and abundant frustration.

“You can see that there’s a very long line that goes out of Ferris Booth now,” said Sean Udell, CC ’11 and senior class president, adding that the overcrowding could even be a safety hazard.
CCSC President Learned Foote, CC ’11, added that there had been hour-long lines for Ferris Booth pasta, a campus favorite.

While the council focused predominantly on the negative feedback, Foote stressed that the flash poll did not reflect an official stance and said that CCSC is working to interpret the data properly and evaluate the best way forward.

alix.pianin@columbiaspectator.com