Hungry Bobcats lacking a meal plan now have more classmates to bother to swipe them into the dining halls as guests.
In the past, only Ohio University students with flex residential meal plans could swipe guests into the dining halls. Starting this academic year, that privilege is extended to students with Traditional 14 and Traditional 20 meal plans.
Students with Traditional 14 meal plans have seven additional guest swipes per semester, and students with Traditional 20 have 10 additional guest swipes per semester, according to Culinary Services’ website.
The change was a result of conversations at Culinary Services Development Committee meetings where student members brought the idea as a topic of discussion, OU Spokesman Dan Pittman said.
OU Student Senate President Hannah Clouser said she attended the Culinary Services Development Committee last fall when extending guest swipes were discussed.
“I’m really excited about it,” Clouser said. “Something that I’ve always wondered since my freshman year ... (was) why can’t students use all their meals on a standard meal plan.”
Jacob Haskins, the chair of the Culinary Services Development Committee, said they normally discusses renovations to the dining halls, including the current renovations to Jefferson Dining Hall, and less of the “day to day” operations.
“I think it’s a big improvement,” Haskins added about the meal plan change.
Culinary Services did not change the price of the meal plans as a result of the addition, Pittman said.
However, Traditional 10 — the university's cheapest residential meal plan option — still does not allow any guest swipes.
“Culinary Services researched other schools who offered guest meals and found that the majority did not offer a guest meal benefit for its basic meal plan,” Pittman said in an email.
Max Glass, a sophomore studying marine biology with a Traditional 10 meal plan, said it is "silly" students with his meal plan can't swipe in guests.
"I am outraged," Glass said. "I think everyone should be able to swipe."
Kaylee Tomasek, a senior studying psychology, said it is "cool" that students with some traditional meal plans can now swipe in guests, but it should be open to all traditional plans.
"I think it's more convenient," Kelly Jackson, a freshman studying photojournalism, said. "Now your friends won't be starving."
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