Students who live in the residence halls at Eastern Michigan University are required to have a meal plan. There are a variety of places that accept meal plans, with different levels of quality for each one.

EMU offers three types of meal plans called Platinum 18, Gold 13 and Silver 8. The higher the number, the more full meals one can buy a day. However, the higher the number, the fewer E-Dollars, money only accepted at EMU Dining Services facilities, are available to be spent.

“Two a day [Gold 13],” said Dan Turco, a sociology major at EMU, when asked which meal plan to get. “Because you are not eating breakfast. No one offers breakfast here that doesn’t suck. Get two a day, lunch and dinner.”

Another alternative to meal plans offered to those who are not first years is Flex, which is basically all E-Dollars. There are different dining establishments on campus that accept meal plans and Flex. The only one that is buffet/restaurant styled is The Commons, which offers an alternating lineup of food.

“The budget cuts are obvious, the cuts in service are obvious and the cuts in products are obvious,” Turco said. “I think it’s shameful the way they treat that place. It used to be fantastic.”

Betty Adams, an English secondary education major, said: “Especially considering the alternatives to DC One being all fast food places, it seemed hypocritical to eliminate the variety from DC One without combating the fattening food vendors elsewhere.”

EMU has a vast number of fast food places that accept meal plans.

“[KFC/Taco Bell] It’s good classic fast food and they’re usually pretty quick with things though sometimes the quality is lacking versus the other campus options,” said Eric Kiturkes, a chemistry secondary education major.

Ryan Poling, a history major, said, “[A&W] It’s the only pace I ever eat at from the Eateries [located in the First Year Center]. They have delicious fries.”

“I feel we don’t have enough originality in our food on campus,” Adams said. “We buy from so many other companies like Taco Bell and Sbarro’s, it’s disheartening. I wish that we supported more of our own amazing local businesses and farms.”

Some places that accept meal plan, such as The Bistro, EMU’s vegetarian restaurant located in the Student Center, and Upper Crust, located in the First Year Center, are set up so students see their meals being cooking in front of them, enabling them to better control the quality of their meal.

“I love the Upper Crust, they’ve got some healthier options, and the customization is great, Kiturkes said. “It allows you a chance to get something different every time you go.”

For those that stay up until the early morning hours, meal plans can also be used at convenience stores and Starbucks. The Quick Fixx, a convenience store located beneath the First Year Center, is usually open until 2 a.m. Paradox Cafe is located in the basement of Halle Library and is also open late.

“It’s a nice little area to get a quick microwave meal that you can use a meal plan for in case you don’t have time to use it for an actual meal, “ said Kiturkes.

Turco, however, dislikes how expensive the food located in Paradox Café and Quick Fixx is.

“They jack up the prices because they can,” he said. “The selection is worse since they switched vendors. They switched to somebody out in Indiana. Now everything is more expensive and there’s less selection.”

The Crossroads Market Place is home to Einstein Bros., the Panini Grill, and Hot Off the Grill. It is located near Hoyt Hall, where many professors’ offices are currently temporarily located due to the construction at Pray-Harrold.

“I think the whole complex is good,” said Kiturkes. “The food is very good, though Einstein’s is a little pricey with most sandwich deals more expensive than the meal plan. “

Turco said, “They’re good, but they’re out of the way. It’s inconvenient, it’s in the middle of nowhere. If I lived in the Towers, I’d think otherwise.”

The Towers is the nickname of Hoyt, Pittman and Hill, the cluster of tall residence halls by the Student Center.
The EMU community meets Starbucks as a meal plan option with mixed reviews. Starbucks is a popular option for those who want to waste a Meal Plan because they couldn’t fit a traditional meal into their day.

“It’s great, it keeps people coming to the Student Center,” said Donnie Beckwith, who is majoring in supply chain management.

“Their free samples get me every time,” Adams said. “I think it’s scary to support a place that’s main product is to hook people on caffeine. We could be supporting local businesses like the Ugly Mug and Beezy’s.”

“Starbucks is good, but I’d like it better if it was the Ugly Mug,” said Turco. “It’s local, high quality, the school would make more money because the school pays Starbucks Corp. to have that thing here. It costs an arm and a leg. I think the Ugly Mug would do it for free or way cheaper. You’re helping local area businesses out. Isn’t that what we are trying to do, help Michigan?”