Standing in the midst of the daily lunch rush at Hawk’s Nest, it would appear that students are more than satisfied with campus dining. However, many students are questioning the quality of the food they are receiving with their costly meal plans and taxed food dollars. 

No doubt, campus dining halls are being updated and furnished nearly every semester. One of the favorite lunch spots Einstein Bros. Bagels was most recently upgraded, introducing artisan flatbread pizzas, salads and smoothies to its menu. The staff also received new equipment to work with. The Landing also introduced an all-day meal swipe option for students. Evidently, our campus is trying to cater to its variety of students ranging from protein-dependent athletes to strict vegans. It has even introduced an option for those with a sweet tooth, Momma Rock’s Dessert truck, which visits campus Mondays and Wednesdays. It seems as if students have easy access to any type of food they may be craving throughout the week. 

For students living away from home for the first time, they probably feel overwhelmed by the variety of dining options their first year; there is a reason for the so-called “freshman 15”. However, once a routine develops and students decide to move off campus, they tend to switch up their meal plans, little do they know, food dollars are taxed. As a matter of fact, the equivalent of a meal swipe at Dub’s Café is around nine food dollars. A meal plan on campus is not cheap.  

In regards to the quality of the food offered around campus, I have heard mixed reactions. Although many of my friends have chosen to keep their meal plans after their freshman year, I have heard recent complaints of stomach upset and even food poisoning. In many of the dining locations, such as The Landing or “Landwich”, students are often receiving over-toasted or sloppy sandwiches for a costly price of $10. The few times I have chosen to line up for a sandwich at Dub’s Café they are either out of PB&J sandwiches or vegetables for a hummus wrap. Being a vegetarian on campus, this can be a nuisance for me. If the campus hopes to attract students with its meal plans, then it should either lower prices or seriously work on the quality and quantity of food. 

It should also reconsider the hours for certain locations. As already mentioned, Einstein Bros. Bagels is one of the favorite dining spots for student and it closes mid-afternoon on Friday for the entire weekend. We are given very limited options over the weekend. Why is that? Does our campus assume that every student leaves for the weekend? We should be offered every dining option every day of the week with such an expensive meal plan. 

With so many students racing through campus to their classes, I understand that food preparation has to be quick and manageable for the dining staff. Nevertheless, I am sure that students would prefer waiting a few more minutes instead of receiving undercooked food. Considering the costs for even a salad or sandwich at most dining locations, the food should be at least edible. 

Despite the expenses and quality, the campus dining staff consists of some of the most pleasant people I have come across while attending UNC Wilmington. I regularly buy lunch on campus and I have yet to meet a staff member who is neither welcoming nor considerate of students. With such wonderful dining staff, I would love to see more improvement in the quality and preparation of the food the chefs have to work with. Our campus dining has great potential and has already made great improvements for both its staff and students. 

All in all, two questions I would like to ask UNCW students are: how can campus dining improve? And are you satisfied with the current meal plan options?