The petition
We the undersigned petition Lipscomb University to improve the quality of service provided by the Lipscomb Dining Services.
Current grievances include:
-A lack of food choices for the diverse needs of the Lipscomb students on campus, including but not limited to: few choices for those seeking healthy alternative foods, few choices for those with various food allergies, and few choices for those who seek a broader range of food styles such as Mexican, Chinese, or other food genres.
-Poor availability of the offered food. Often the food court is out of stock on basic items.
-Low quality of portions of available food. Grill 155 chicken baskets, Pizza Hutt pizzas, and Dining Hall “Classics” options are often of low to inedible quality.
-Various and sundry inconvenient “reductions” in the hours of operation of the dining service prevent students from using the expensive meals plans which have been purchased per requirement.
-Often a lack of available/working employees.
-Mandatory meal plans for on campus students, at current pricing, should dictate availability at ANY time, not limited to a stringent time constraint with designations such as “floating meal” vs. “regular meal”.
-Limited food court combination options. Per current explanation of limitations, bottled water cannot be purchased in conjunction with a salad and chips. A smoothie cannot be purchased in conjunction with a pizza. Jazzman’s offerings and limitations are not clearly explained, but many have expressed frustration with the current status of options. In any case, many limitations are not clearly stated or understood, and often the limitations are extremely unsatisfactory.
We the undersigned seek the following solutions and propose the following ideas regarding the improvement of the Lipscomb Dining Services:
-A wider array of available food options to serve the broad range of student dining needs. This would include healthier food options in both the food court and dining center, alternative cooking methods or options for those with food allergies, and a sincere consideration of the student interest in the types of food to be added.
-Consistent availability of food and services.
-An improved food quality in every area currently identified as poor or lacking (see student comments for detailed descriptions of current dining quality shortcomings).
-Hours of operation that allow students to purchase meals at times that are convenient for the student body. This includes maintaining regular hours of operation and food supply during and preceding Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring break, and other Holidays, instead of the current practice of reducing hours and food availability.
-Sufficient and well-trained staff to provide food and services.
-A committee to look into meal-plan options regarding “floating meals” vs. “regular use meals”. Students should be able to use meals plans at whatever time they choose. Students should not be forced to use a “floating meal” (which are small in number) or a “regular meal”. Meal tickets should be able to be used at the student’s election and not within the specific and often inconvenient timeframes.
-A clear and satisfactory policy regarding available options for purchasing in the food court. Reasonable pairing of items based on item value and realistic allowances should be developed.
The above petitioned recommendations are sought in hopes that they will improve the overall quality of the dining services and allow for operation that is more satisfactory and reasonable to the student body. The preceding petition is therefore respectfully submitted to Lipscomb Dining Services with the request that the administration thoughtfully consider and respond to the proposed solutions and recommendations.
-Attached will be student suggestions, comments, and ideas.-
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