Starting next fall, The New School plans to instate a mandatory minimum of $250 worth of “Dining Dollars,” or non-refundable cash to be spent only at New School cafeterias for all new, non-resident students.
Previously, only students living in dormitories were required to purchase a meal plan, and off-campus students were not obligated to have a school meal plan of any kind. The decision will not affect any current off-campus students, only incoming off-campus students (primarily transfer students.)
Some students think that this mandatory meal plan is inconvenient. “It’s a little baffling that this would be required for [students] who don’t live on campus,” said Lang junior and transfer student Brendan Leonard. “Personally, if I’m paying for a meal plan, I’m going to feel forced to eat at the dining halls, and that’s not something I particularly want to do.”
According to Sam Biederman, the university’s director of communications, The New School said it hoped that the meal plan would, “help to foster a sense of community within Lang.” He added that the University Center cafeteria was much more popular than the University had expected it to be, and therefore they hoped to expand the sense of community it created to non-resident students.
Tess Mangiardi, a Junior at Lang, welcomed the University’s decision. “I wouldn’t mind it because I think it would help me out on the days when I have no money,” Mangiardi said.
Several members of the University Student Senate (USS) confirmed that the representative body wasn’t consulted on the change.
“The decision to try and foster more community through consumption was improperly made without any student input, and definitely without the input of the USS,” said USS Co-Chair Nico Galván.
“While I do not personally stand behind the idea of requiring students, campus and off campus residents alike, to pay for what is essentially a meal plan, I do understand the reasoning behind the decision,” said Shannon Swimm, senate representative for Lang College.
The USS said it is planning to open to dialogue on the topic and hopes to work out the disagreements.
The New School Dining Dollars may be used in any of the university’s three dining facilities at Arnhold Hall, Lang College and the University Center, and differ from New Card Cash which may be used at other establishments throughout the city.
Other colleges in New York City do not require mandatory meal plans or “Dining Dollar” equivalents. Columbia University requires a meal plan for freshmen and New York University requires its meal plan for all freshman living in housing. CUNY has no mandatory meal plans for any students.
“The cost of living in the city is expensive, and many students just find it cheaper to cook at home,” said Lang sophomore Annie Panousopoulos. “Forcing us to buy dining dollars also takes away one of the great joys of living in New York City, which is the chance to experience the plethora of food that can be found at every corner of the city.”
“I hope the administration considers consulting the student senate on this new pronouncement,” said Angela Pulido, the representative for Parsons. “It seems there is still more to know about it.”
With reporting by Shawn Carrie and Max Resetar
Ellen is a senior at Lang majoring in Fiction. She is passionate about yoga and is currently completing a teacher training at Laughing Lotus Yoga Center in Flatiron. After graduation she plans to teach yoga in Los Angeles. She is passionate about yoga, veg/ vegan cooking, being outside, and her pug Eloise.
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