The quality of food on campus is a whole lot better than it was this time last year. More selections in the UC Satellite plus a new and improved cafeteria in Moody Towers combine to provide UH students with a wider variety of good food.
Despite all of this, the food offered on campus is not even close to having the levels of quality, convenience and affordability it should have. The new cafeteria is a huge improvement over the old one, but it has steadily gone downhill in quality and variety since the school year started. This has left students with the impression that the new Moody Towers cafeteria may eventually degenerate to the same level of mediocre monotony embraced by its predecessor. That is a completely unacceptable outcome if UH wants to encourage its students to live, eat and socialize on campus.
Despite the improved quality of the new cafeteria, few students who do not live on campus are aware that for the same price as a sandwich, fries and a drink at Chick-fil-A, they can enjoy an all-you-can eat lunch full of healthier, more diverse options.
Another major issue with food on campus is that buying a meal at any of the restaurants or convenience stores on campus is significantly more expensive than simply walking or driving off campus to a similar, non-University sponsored eatery.
The high cost is understandable, as it is simply good business practice, but the weird operating hours campus locations keep aren’t. According to the College Board, 13 percent of UH students (and 27 percent of UH freshmen) live on campus, meaning they’re on campus at meal times at least 10-15 times a week. It’s absolutely ridiculous that the vast majority of UH’s dining options close shortly after the lunch rush.
The restaurants offered on campus contain very few options that a health-conscious student can enjoy guilt-free. New options offered this year are headed in that direction, but Wendys and Starbucks still dominate the late UH dining market.
A crucial part of becoming a big-name school and earning Tier One status is encouraging students to spend time on campus and be active in campus life. Having a wide variety of quality, inexpensive food available at the odd hours students prefer is an obvious way to encourage that sort of behavior.
Casey Goodwin is a mechanical engineering sophomore and may be reached at [email protected].
That, and having a night shift. It makes business sense.