Meal plan dining options will be extended come fall, with new locations to swipe for meals, extended hours and more points allotted at Outtakes.
Churchill Hall will be replaced by a Rebecca’s Cafe, a Burlington-based chain caterer as of August 23. The restaurant carries sandwiches, salads and hot entrees, and will allow students to use their meal plan instead of cash.
Student Government Association (SGA) Vice President for Student Services Will Pett said he has worked extensively on the expansion the dining options.
“We hadn’t asked for [a meal swipe] specifically, but we had been pushing them into adding meal swipes at as many locations on campus as possible,” Pett said.
Pett was one of several students who sat on the food advisory board along with Mike Vigna, director of food services and vending operations, and Maureen Timmons, director of dining services. Vigna and Timmons headed the addition of Rebecca’s Cafe following a performance review of Churchill.
“To be honest, I never ate there myself,” Pett said. “A lot more students will definitely take advantage of the space.”
This is in addition to adding a meal swipe option at West End Eatery in the Curry Student Center West Addition, which had been suggested by SGA and students for a few years.
“Part of what was able to help us was questions on Campus Invasion surveys,” Pett said. “We sort of had the evidence we needed to back up our case.”
Some students said they were unaware of SGA’s actions, but said they were excited for the changes.
“Being on campus so much and being an RA [Resident Assistant] it’s nice to have dining options for people that rely on this food for meals,” said Erica Garfinkel, a middler architecture major. “It is unexpected, but it’s definitely welcome.”
Others said they had personally advocated for the extension of the meal plan, and are excited to see it finally take effect.
“I sent a letter to Northeastern because I thought it’d be a really good idea,” said Justin White, a middler electrical engineering major. “I’m surprised it took them this long, but I’m really glad they are doing it.”
After a test-run at the end of spring term, Stetson East – Levine Marketplace will have permanent extended hours, open until 11 p.m. on weeknights and 10 p.m. on weekends. Also, Outtakes will oust the 6 point rule and now one meal from a standard meal plan will be equal to 8 points.
All of these new options will help students get more for their meal plan money, and will be advertising heavily now through fall, Pett said.
“I’m really excited to see this go into full effect,” he said. “We want to make sure that when everyone gets back in the fall, they know about the new options that are available.”
