Barnard1What’s that, Barnard students? You were excited about the opening of the Vag Diana? Looking forward to all the exciting new dining options, such as “a state-of-the-art dining room and Liz’s Place, an expanded and improved-upon replacement for Java City.” Well, even if you weren’t giddy with anticipation, you’ll have to spend some money there: following Spec‘s report from yesterday, Barnard has officially announced that it will be requiring all students to participate in at least a limited meal plan.

According to an email from Dean of the College Dorothy Denburg, each year will have fewer and fewer requirements: first-years will “receive” (buy) unlimited meals and 250 dining points, while seniors will only have to chip in for 400 dining points. Sophomores living on the quad, though, will no longer have to renew the unlimited meal plan; their count will be limited to “only” 150 meals per semester. To encourage using the meal points, Barnard is “providing a five percent bonus amount to all dining points, making purchases economical as well as convenient.”

Wait, you wanted some justification, some reasoning for the change? Denburg’s email only devotes one sentence to that area, writing that “sharing food and conversation is a tried and true way of building community, and I think we are all excited about the increased opportunities that the Diana provides for us to come together.” Whether administrators are also okay with the Barnard community coming together in opposition to the new plan sadly went unaddressed. Full email after the jump.


Dear Student,

The New Year brings the much-awaited opening of The Diana Center. Along with the green roof, event oval, black box theater, classrooms and meeting rooms, this incredible building will also house a state-of-the-art dining room and Liz’s Place, an expanded and improved-upon replacement for Java City.

With the addition of these wonderful resources, and with an eye towards strengthening Barnard’s sense of community, your SGA leaders and members of Representative Council have been working with me and other administrators over the past year to improve upon the structure of the current meal plan. We believe that the revised plan will build community and animate the Diana Center, yet still accounts for differences in lifestyle of students by class and residence.

Beginning in the 2010-11 academic year, upper-class students will be required to participate in a limited meal plan, the specifics of which are laid out below. First-year students, as always, will continue to participate in the unlimited meal plan, with the addition of 100 points.

First-years: Unlimited meals + 250 points

Sophomore Quad residents: 150 meals + 300 points

Sophomore non-Quad residents: 40 meals + 800 points

Juniors: 450 points

Seniors: 400 points

All students will be able to swipe and go with their student IDs at Hewitt dining hall, the Diana Center dining room and Liz’s Place. In addition, meal credits will be accepted at John Jay dining hall at Columbia, and points may be used to purchase items at a new convenience store opening in the Quad next fall. As an added incentive, we are providing a five percent bonus amount to all dining points, making purchases economical as well as convenient.

As some of you may recall, the old McIntosh cafeteria provided a full menu with a wide variety of food options. Following in that tradition, the Diana dining room will offer hot entrees, grilled specialties, Panini sandwiches, wraps, an extended salad bar and the infamous McIntosh stone hearth thin crust pizza. Liz’s Place will improve upon Java City’s current offerings with a wider selection of grab-n-go items. Both facilities will serve Kosher, Halal, nut-free, gluten-free and vegan food.

The Diana dining room will be open through the late lunch hours. Liz’s Place will be open until midnight.

Sharing food and conversation is a tried and true way of building community, and I think we are all excited about the increased opportunities that the Diana provides for us to come together. Many thanks to those students who worked tirelessly with me and other administrators to work on this new plan, and best wishes to all for a successful end to the semester.

Dorothy Denburg