Dartmouth’s Dining Services in Disarray

It seems that once again DDS is rattled by controversy following the commencement of the fall term. Long lines and interminable wait times plague dining locations of all stripes at many hours of the day. This critique must be prefaced by noting that the incoming freshman class is the largest the college has ever matriculated and that the amount of students on campus for the 2021 Fall quarter is the most the college has ever seen. These facts do not absolve the administration of blatant missteps and wrongdoing—even in the face of logistical nightmares. 

The first order of concern is that of the late night swipe debacle. For the first two weeks of the term, not a single DDS location remained open past 9 PM. This meant that students had nowhere to use the $5.25 “late night” swipe. In addition to being disruptive to the flow of Dartmouth students who especially depended on the swipe and late operating hours on weekends, there is a quite substantial monetary cost to students associated with such a move. Meal plans have not changed in price since the pandemic and freshman are required—at least for the first term—to purchase the “Ivy Unlimited” plan. This is DDS’ most expensive dining option, giving students four swipes each day to be used at each corresponding meal period and 250 Dining Dollars to be used at DDS locations, at the student’s discretion.

Now indulge me in some rather simple math. Two weeks consists of 14 days, 14 days multiplied by the $5.25 dollar figure is $73.50 in money lost per student on the Ivy Unlimited. This amount is not atrocious, but can be pretty consequential—especially to low-income students who are living frugally during their college years. Even if you scoff at 73 dollars lost to an Ivy League student, one must appreciate the magnitude. Dartmouth admitted 1229 freshmen this year and this being their first term, they are all on this unlimited plan. If only these students were on the plan—a conservative assumption—DDS would be liable for a total of $90,331.50 in squandered money on behalf of the student body. Considering the cost of the Ivy Unlimited Plan is $2,264 the damages are the equivalent of just 40 students’ full meal costs for the term. This of course assumes only freshmen are on the plan. No plans have been announced to amend this grievance; perhaps it is an issue the Student Assembly can bring to the administration.

Another grievance of students has been the lines and wait times at dining locations to start the term. Lunch rushes have been particularly atrocious, as one can see lines hugging the DOC waiting to enter ‘53 Commons. Yes, the college is dealing with a large student body, but once in Foco one does not have trouble finding tables. It seems that Foco is not running beyond capacity but is in reality severely understaffed. It is not a rare occurrence to find no available plates, metal utensils or  coffee mugs. They are operating under constraints, but these wait times and lack of amenities can impact students who are working jobs, going to classes and involved in clubs. Busy schedules mean that meals need to be efficient and sustaining—not a dysfunctional and time-consuming mess.

The final note on the agenda is a new part of Collis Cafe’s offerings for ‘21 Fall: boba tea. This summer, a new restaurant called 4U Bubble Tea opened in Hanover. Popular with students, situated at My Brigadeiros’ former location, the business saw a healthy influx of students and accompanying success over the term. This was a great sign for a town which had seen businesses like Skinny Pancake and Morano Gelato close their doors for good over the COVID-19 Pandemic. Students were attracted to the quaint establishment’s authentic boba tea and assortment of Asian snacks. Similar to brigadeiros, boba tea is a welcomed cultural infusion to a New England town like Hanover which has embraced culinary cuisine from all over, Tuk Tuk Thai and Jewel of India being a few examples. Perhaps it is a coincidence that in the same spirit of cultural diversity and acceptance DDS decided to offer boba tea this term, but that is an unlikely proposition. Depending on the product, Collis bubble tea is priced at exactly the same or beneath the price of 4U by 50 cents. It may seem like trivial amounts of money, but with its accessibility to Dartmouth students via location and dining plans, it seems that DDS may be using some of their borderline monopolistic pressure to hurt a fledgling local business. Such a move seems to have forgotten President Hanlon’s address to the class of ‘21, wherein he told graduates to look fondly at the reunions they will have in Hanover and that, “Today, I stand here with hope for the Great Class of 2021, knowing that your Dartmouth experience has uniquely prepared you to become stewards of those things you hold most dear.” This implication of DDS is us being stewards of what we hold most dear, President Hanlon.