Dining Services is introducing the Wiser Plan, a new meal plan for students who are not required to have a full meal plan, as well as several other dining changes this fall.The Wiser Plan, designed for students who live off campus and those who live in campus housing with full kitchens, offers students 35 meals and 300 Dining Dollars per semester. The plan's price will be advertised in selected apartments and residences this fall, wrote Director of Dining Services Mike Newmark in an e-mail to the Justice. In the e-mail Newmark explained that Dining Dollars are treated in the same capacity as points but can be purchased at any time, much like WhoCash. Students will benefit from purchasing the Wiser Plan because it offers a greater value through the combination of meals and Dining Dollars, wrote Newmark.

The Dining Services Web site states that Usdan Student Center Boulevard and Café will have added combo meals for under $5, an expanded kosher section in the Boulevard and an organic salad bar. "'Home Zone' has changed to a self serve 'Comfort Classics' station allowing you to select what and how much you want. Priced by the ounce allows customers maximum flexibility, convenience and value," according to the Web site. Sherman Dining Hall will feature more gluten-free options and a new kosher stir-fry station. The Wiser Plan was created in response to student feedback about the Wise Plan, a similar meal plan that was introduced last fall, Newmark explained. the Wise Plan is also targeted at students who are not required to be on a meal plan and consists of 90 meals and 325 Dining Dollars per semester for $949. "Student feedback last year was they wanted less meals on a voluntary meal plan," wrote Newmark in an e-mail to the Justice.

The Wise and Wiser plans can be purchased anytime during the year, and the Dining Dollars included in these meal plans will expire at the end of the academic year, according to Newmark. "Dining dollars purchased separately by anyone at anytime carry over and only expire upon leaving the University," Newmark wrote. He added that students will receive a 10-percent value upgrade to their online purchases of Dining Dollars, meaning that if a student pays $300, he will receive $330 in Dining Dollars.

Chair of the Dining Committee Jenna Rubin '10 believes the new Dining Services Web site is also a significant change. "It's definitely . an easier format to navigate and understand what kind of information is available, and a lot more questions about meals plan and dining halls have been answered through that Web site," Rubin said.

"And now in the future when people have questions and come to the Dining Committee, we can tell them, 'Hey, your question is actually answered on this Web site in the words of ... Newmark, and his answers are far better than ours," Rubin said.

"Despite economic challenges, we are proud to deliver a world-class dining program for our customers/community by developing relationships based on service excellence, partnership and mutual understanding. We make quality/service improvements each year based on the support and feedback from students, administration and the rest of the Brandeis community," wrote Newmark.

Most students, however, did not respond favorably upon hearing of the Wiser Plan.

Eben Cottrelle '10, who lives in the Foster Mods, a residence that has fitted kitchens, said that he is not currently on a meal plan. "I actually like to cook," said Cottrelle, emphasizing that, for this reason, he does not wish to be on any meal plan.

Similarly, Jason Stoll '10, who lives off campus, is also not on a meal plan.

Stoll explained that he does not wish to be on any meal plan "because meal plans consist of mostly campus dining, and the only time I'm on campus is for classes."



- Brian Fromm contributed reporting