The university is considering mandating a third-year meal plan, according to a press release issued today by the Georgetown University Student Association.
GUSA President Trevor Tezel (SFS ’15) and Vice President Omika Jikaria (SFS ’15) expressed their opposition to the plan, which adds an additional year of required meal plans.
“The university is adding additional requirements to the student body that students did not anticipate upon making their decision to attend Georgetown,” Tezel said in the press release. “The university would be taking advantage of students with the implementation of this policy.”
The statement cited concerns with the accompanying tuition increase. Currently, freshmen and sophomores are required to purchase weekly meal plans, which range from $1,958 to $2,519.50. While block plans are advertised as available only to upperclassmen, sophomores who live in apartments may purchase a block option in lieu of a weekly plan to fulfill their requirement.
The press release also described O’Donovan Hall as ill-equipped to take on additional students.
“It is already plagued with long lines, insufficient amount of seating and silverware and there are serious concerns about exceeding capacity under the fire code,” the statement read.
According to GUSA, university administrators are entertaining the proposal without having consulted Leo’s workers, whom they describe as “already overworked.”
The proposal would ostensibly take effect for the Class of 2017, alongside the new three-year on-campus housing requirement.
Jikaria elaborated on specific concerns with the proposed policy.
“Leo’s is already not suitable to the schedule of varsity athletes and does not offer enough options for students needing kosher, gluten-free or other accommodations,” she said in the statement. “Moreover, with all students going to one dining hall on campus, the non-contact directives from Title IX are more complicated to enforce.”
The university was not immediately available for comment. A full story will appear in Friday’s print edition.