Stonehill College students and staff are tasting a new food provider and trying out a new way to serve meals this year with the switch from Sodexo to Bon Appétit, but not without some glitches.
The College said farewell to the pay-per-item plan in favor of all-you-can-eat meal swipes, which allow students to eat more with each meal. The pay-per-item plan was criticized as providing too little food for students, particularly athletes.
While the new dining plan features an all-you-can-eat option, there are longer lines and a crowded dining hall.
“Sometimes I leave on the earlier side to avoid the lines, but I think they are unavoidable,". International Business major Grace Caso ‘25 said.
Caso said the lines are annoying. “It creates such a traffic jam, especially if you can get in and get out if you have somewhere to be.”
“There should be more than one person to check the swipes and figure out the placement of the food. The main course should be in the middle, with a safe option for everyone,” she said.
She is not the only student complaining.
“I go to dinner at 5 every night because it gets very busy. The earlier you go it is better, the lines get long the later in the night you go,” said Ali Alsaadi ‘26.
“I believe it gets very busy at some points. Even though the Commons is all-you-can-eat, the portions are not as big as they normally are. To get seconds, there are lines. The portions can be larger, but the all-you-can-eat option is much better,” he said.
Junior Psychology major Grace Faley said she is concerned about the amount of food that is being thrown out. “I don’t like how there is a lot of waste. Paying for food that is going to get thrown away. They have a lot of full fruits and veggies on display eventually going to waste. My friend wanted a tomato, and she got yelled at,” she said.
The long lines at the dining hall also draw attention. There have been lines extending down the main stairwell during dinner time.
The head supervisor of Roche Dining Commons, Donlie M. Wood, said the new plan was needed and some additional changes would be made to avoid waste.
“Sometimes change is tough, but I know in my heart the all-you-can-eat food is what you guys need. No young person should go hungry or worry about if they have enough money for the week. All this change is all for good, we just need to tweak it and work it out. We were so afraid of originally overproducing and making too much food, but now it has shown that there is not enough,” she said.
Wood said she was pleased with the new vendor, “I think the food is better, and they are doing new things. They are making homemade dressings, like the barbecue sauce.”
Student Faley agreed. “The food is better and better for athletes because they can eat more.”
Fellow student Caso concurred. “I am not worried about spending or being pressured to eat less to save money, I can eat as much as I can”.
Student Alsaadi also believes things improved this year. “There is better quality food, with healthier options. It is very beneficial that we can eat a lot more food and not be required to pay 30 dollars for it.”
Wood said it may take time to adjust to the new system, but she is confident it will work out.
“When there is a will there is a way. If we can’t see it right now it is okay. We hope to streamline it and get it quickly,” Wood said.
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