EMU students arriving for classes this week found that many of the food locations they've used across campus had been permanently closed.
University officials announced in an Aug. 18 email that E|Dining had made several changes to their campus food services. The email stated that the changes being made were based on student preferences.
"This shift is all about aligning with your habits and making sure dining reflects how you live on campus now," the university said in the email, which was signed by E|Dining and distributed by Walter Kraft, vice president of communications.
The day after the email was sent, student Jason Folk launched a Change.org petition called "Restore Accessible Dining Options at EMU," which as of Aug. 27, had 1,392 signatures.
"As an incoming freshman, the fact that they think they can make these unnecessary budget cuts makes me sick — especially since they waited until everyone had already bought a meal plan until they spun the trap," Vincent from Summerville wrote on the petition.
During the 2024-25 academic year, E|Dining operated six markets across campus: one each in Pray-Harrold, Mark-Jefferson, the Crossroads, the Student Center, the Eateries and in the basement of the library. The library market had just opened that year.
At the start of classes this fall, all but the market in the library and the Eateries were closed. Additionally, four restaurants in the Student Center were closed: TuTaco, BUILD, Oakwood Street Subs and Happy Boba.
The campus food map in The Commons shows places where students can find food at EMU.
E|Dining said in the Aug. 18 email they were increasing the farmer's markets that were held periodically at the Student Center during the 2024-25 year.
The remaining food options on campus are now the Commons, a cafeteria-style service; the Eastern Eateries, Chick-fil-A, the library market, Starbucks and True Burger. The Little Caesars food truck will still be on campus during lunch hours. Students can use their meal plans, credit cards or Flex to purchase food. However, operating hours have changed for many of the food service locations.
Residential students are required to buy meal plans unless they are upperclassmen living in a campus apartment. Commuter students retain the option to purchase a meal plan. Roughly 70% of EMU students are commuters, according to the university's data book for 2023.
Meal plans range from an annual cost of $2,075 to $7,100, depending on how many meals a student wants per day, or per week.
"I'm a commuter and I'm very greatly impacted by the changes," said financial planning student Ethan Delaney, a senior from Belleville, Michigan. "When the markets were open, I was able to grab a quick bite to eat between classes. Now those options are no longer available to me. Also, as a commuter, I don't have a dining plan, which means there's not many options for dining at all."
Following complaints from students and even some staff members, the university sent a second email on Aug. 19, stating that even though some smaller venues are closing, E|Dining would provide new options and upgrades. Those upgrades include more variety at the Commons with rotating chef stations and weekly popups, upgrading True Burger to donate 5% of its sales to Swoop's Pantry; more frequent farmer's markets, the self-service market at Halle Library, which will be open during library hours; and special dining nights.
"We know that these changes can be tough, and we are working to keep your meal plans full of value and quality," the E|Dining managers said in the email.
