Since Autumn of 2012, The Ohio State University's Meal Plan has been a “block” system, with a required number of $5 “block” units to be used for meal purchases, without roll-over from semester-to-semester. Due to community outrage about the “block” system, OSU ushered in a new Dining Plan Proposal, to go in effect for the 2015-2016 academic year.

However, students believe that the proposed plan is not only wasteful, over-complicated, and expensive for students; we believe that the proposed 2015-2016 plan is worse than the “block” plan we currently have. Among student concerns:

-The proposed meal plans require students to consume a number of meals (as many as 14/week) at the three “Traditions” locations on campus. If students fail to redeem these meals within that week, they will expire. In this way, this plan is less flexible than the current plan. -New plans will allow students to “convert” a mandatory “Traditions” meal to a $5 “block”* at an a-la-carte location-- effectively a 50% penalty. For students who have class, meetings, and work during meal times, this penalty will greatly increase cost-- many students will have to add additional dining dollars to their account, through the semester, to pay for meals purchased with this penalty. -On average, new plans offer less dollar amount for price than the previous block plans (even before factoring in any penalty for converting swipes to dining dollars).**

Students believe that the new 2015-2016 meal plans are a step backwards rather than forward. They penalize students-- in sticker price for purchasing a more flexible plan, or in the 50% “conversion” penalty-- for getting involved, supporting themselves through work, and taking on time commitments in research.

We urge Ohio State’s Board of Trustees to reject the proposed plans. Specifically, we look to countless universities nationwide who simply use a debit-like “declining balance” plan (with dining dollars only, no required meals, penalties, or expirations), and ask why we aren’t able to be so transparent at Ohio State.

We have an opportunity to be National Champions in transparency, affordability, and student satisfaction with our meal plans. We ask our university to seize this opportunity.

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*Traditions "swipes" also will be able to be redeemed for certain meal combinations at "market" locations, however, how exactly this will work has not yet been made clear.

**Even assuming no $5 conversions from traditions swipes, and valuing each swipe at $10, with the current information available, Buckeye 5 and Grey 10 are more expensive than the dollar value they offer. Scarlet 14 is less expensive than value offered, and so is Unlimited for most students selecting that option.