Beginning late last semester, the Fireside Grill began reinforcing a policy that prevents students from purchasing exchange meals if they have already been to the cafeteria during that same meal period.
Mark Henry, director of food services at Milligan, responded to questions regarding this new reinforcement.
“It has always been set up that, if you do not eat a meal in the cafeteria, you can exchange that meal for one in the Grill,” Henry said, adding that the policy was always supposed to be enforced, though “we were a little more lenient with some.”
According to Henry, many students were taking advantage of the policy, for example by ordering multiple exchange meals at once, which is why the policy is being enforced more now than in the past.
The reinforcement has upset a number of students, especially athletes who have practice during normal meal times, and those working in the Grill who have had to inform students of the sudden policy enforcement.
“For the most part, a lot of students were angry, and a couple even screamed at some of my co-workers, making them feel unsafe in the work environment,” said Dinorah de la Cerda, a senior nursing student who has worked in the Grill for four years. “It is definitely not fair. We have nothing to do with the policy or the rules. We just have to follow them. I know for a fact that I and another co-worker brought it up to management, begging for an email or a sign, or anything to announce it because we were tired of the backlash from our fellow students.”
Henry said that he first thought there was a sign posted at the Grill informing students of this policy, but he was later informed that initially a handwritten note had been posted only for employees, not visible to customers. Since then, an official statement about the policy has been posted at the Grill.
“Hopefully, this will help clear up any confusion about the policy and how it works,” Henry said.
de la Cerda said she understands “where they are coming from” in implementing the policy again, though she believes that management mishandled the situation.
“You can’t just change something in the middle of the second semester and expect people to understand and be like, ‘Oh, OK, that’s fine,’” she said. “Students had been getting two exchange meals for however many months or years, and all of a sudden, it’s not allowed. So, of course, with no email or sign, (students) assumed we were lying and were doing it to avoid making their food, which of course was not true.”
Henry said that the cafeteria offers a “Green on the Go” service, or a plastic to-go box, that allows students to take food out of the cafeteria with them. The box costs $5 up front and is refundable when the student is finished with it. This service is specifically for students who are not able to dine at the cafeteria during regular hours. Henry also added that students should be aware that the Grill is always open later than the cafeteria, where students can go in and make an actual cash purchase as opposed to an exchange meal.
“As always, if anyone has any issues, needs clarification, or needs help getting meals in the evening, they are more than welcome to come meet with me to discuss special situations,” Henry said.