University administrators held an open forum for students at the University Center Feb. 15, following student concerns over proposed meal plan changes.

The proposed changes first came to students’ attention at the Feb. 7 Student Government Association (SGA) meeting. Students were quick to comment on the private Facebook group Living at Southeast, citing a lack of communication, dietary restrictions and costs as concerns.

Associate Vice President of Student Life Bruce Skinner posted an announcement about the forum in Living at Southeast on Feb. 14, stating he and Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success Debbie Below would be able to answer questions that students had at the event.

SGA senators David Oliver and Sarah St. John, as well as Chief of Staff Alex Auck and University Affairs Committee Chair Joel Philpott, were at the forum to ask questions of their own and help clarify any questions other students had.

Philpott said he had a better understanding of the changes and felt more comfortable with the plan.

“[The administration] don’t have the ill-intent that some students may think they have,” Philpott said. “They’re not here to drive profits for themselves, they’re not here as a business tactic. … They really do care about what students have to say.”

Below opened the forum with a conversation to gauge how and where students use their meal plans on campus.

Skinner moved into the presentation, which included information on the meal plan and dining venue changes. Below said prices associated with the Fall 2022 meal plans aren’t final, and the rates must be confirmed by the Board of Regents.

The block locations will still have all-you-can-eat options, and Towers Landing will include a vegetarian and vegan-friendly station that Skinner hopes to incorporate at St. Vincent’s Commons. Plans for Rowdy’s include keeping the salad station and the grill and adding rice bowl and loaded sandwich options.

Skinner and Below attended the Feb. 14 SGA meeting to help clear up any confusion or questions senators and the executive board had following the previous meeting. Philpott said the Feb. 7 was meant to introduce the changes and begin a dialogue with students. He said the discussion “took a life of its own” following the meeting.

Students at the forum said their anger mainly stemmed from students not being included in the conversation from the beginning. Attendee Connor McElwee expressed his frustrations about students not being included in the discussion.

“A lot of where our frustrations came from is it feels like we weren’t asked before all of this happened,” McElwee said. “Now that it is happening, it feels like our voices weren’t heard or don’t matter.”

Below said they’ve been studying this type of plan for a few years and used the University of Arkansas as a model. She also said this is something Chartwells has worked with them on and isn’t something they pushed.

“They came back to Student Government [on Feb. 14] — they were not planning that last week,” Philpott said. “They really care about what students have to say and student opinions, and really thought they should reiterate it or address concerns that may have come up from the plan.”

Skinner also addressed the concern students had about 22 Resident Assistants (RAs) being the only students surveyed. Skinner said different groups were surveyed across campus, and the surveys of RAs were given as an example during the Feb. 7 presentation.

“So the 22 RAs, that one can be put squarely on my shoulders,” Skinner said. “That was used as an example, and it was by no means the only population that was used. It was just one that was picked up, and when the presentation was done at [Student Government], it was highlighted as an example.”

Skinner and Below spent the remaining time of the forum answering original questions from students that they hadn’t already, as well as new questions or points of confusion students had from the new presentation.

“When we have explained this to many students, the level of comfort increases,” Skinner said. “And some students, who just a week ago were very critical, are like, ‘OK, now I better understand the value.’”

Skinner said they plan to hold more forums in the future, as he understood not every student could attend this one. He said they wanted to have a forum as soon as possible following SGA and an available time in the University Center.

“Of course with any change comes concerns and questions, whether that change be good or bad,” Philpott said. “I think that a lot of information that was said at [the SGA meeting on Feb. 7] maybe wasn’t cleared up in the best response, but over time, they’ve definitely done their best to help clarify and really reiterate the true details of this plan.”

To view the Arrow’s livestream of the forum, click here. Redhawk Dining Advisors is a student group that works with Chartwells throughout the school year. For more information, contact Alicia Ticer at alicia.ticer@compass-usa.com.