Ah, dining at the University of Maryland. From devouring a chocolate milkshake at Late Night to lamenting the decision to get a full plate at the Korean Barbecue Station, the dining plan life certainly has its ups and downs. While many of us have our complaints, there are a few things we can all agree that we will miss come the new dining plan in Fall 2016, in addition to some new perks that will hopefully win us over.
Con: Out With Take Out
Next fall, taking out food from the diner will no longer be an option. While it’s exciting that each meal is now all you can eat, I definitely won’t be looking forward to sprinting to the diner, eating lunch in the 15 minutes I have in the afternoon, then sprinting back to class again. After all, eating in the comfort of your own bed, falling asleep, and waking up in a daze next to your take out container is what college is really all about.
Pro: All You Can Eat, All The Time
Gone are the days of watching your dining points slip away as you become closer and closer to having to beg friends to buy you food. On the new plan, food is unlimited for each meal and you can visit the diner as many times per day as you would like. Score.
Con: 251 North
All students who live on North Campus look forward to that one meal a week at 251 North, with all you can eat buffet style food that is just slightly less mediocre than traditional diner food. For many students, 251 not only saves those precious diner points but is also a great way to connect with friends at the end of a long week. While 251 itself will still be around as part of the new plan, it will now operate in the same manner as the traditional dining halls. Here’s to hoping that the quality of the food at least remains the same.
Pro: ID-Free Dining
Our dining options aren’t the only things that are changing - so are the ways that we access them. Currently, students have to use their University ID’s to pay for food by the item. On the new plan, each dining hall will have a palm scanner that students use to gain access. Gone will be the days of spilling drinks and dropping food in a rushed attempt to find your University ID that is, in fact, still in your dorm room.
Con: Goodbye, Convenience Store Splurging
On the current dining plan, students are provided with 342 Terp Bucks per semester to use at various locations on campus including convenience stores, cafes, Adele’s Restaurant, and the dining halls. In most cases, students spend much less than their share of Terp Bucks throughout the semester and struggle to spend their excess bucks during those last few weeks. As part of the new system, students must upgrade from the base plan in order to receive any Terp Bucks. Next year, I’ll miss being gifted boxes of Pop Tarts on a daily basis by friends who would rather visit the 24-hour shop at 3 am than study for their finals.
Pro: Hello, Terp Bucks at Stamp
As mentioned above, Terp Bucks, which will be called Dining Dollars, will only come with upgraded dining plans above the base plan. However, those fortunate enough to have selected a more advanced dining plan will be able to use their Dining Dollars at convenience stores and cafes as well as the food court in Stamp. These new locations include Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell Express, Auntie Anne’s, Sbarro and Subway. Time to get some waffle fries and a 12-pack of Tacos to celebrate!
All in all, the new dining plan will take some getting used to, but it seems many changes will ultimately be for the better. We won't know for sure until next fall, but until then we'll be enjoying all our extra TerpBucks and takeout meals before they're gone!
