In an effort to avoid these problems, many universities are experimenting with a combination of the traditional board plan and the point system. Boston University, Stanford, Tufts, MIT and North-eastern are among a number of colleges offering such combination board plans.
Boston University decided to switch from a 20 meal per week board plan similar to Harvard's system to a combination system in 1984. In their system--dubbed Budget Plus--students are guaranteed a certain number of meals a week and also have a declining balance of meal points to use. In addition, meals on the regular board plan can be converted into points for use at other locations.
"We're happy with the program. It's given us the flexibility to offer more items to our students that you can't afford with the just regular program," says Patricia K. Bedrosian, associate director of dining services. For example, she says, B.U. was able to offer students a lobster dinner one night.
"To keep students happy you need a progressive dining service. You can't do that by regimenting--by telling them when, where and what to eat," says Bedrosian.
So many schools are offering students a broad range of on-and off-campus dining choices which can all be paid for through the school meal plan.
MIT gives students the option to use their meal cards at four residential dining halls, a full-service restaurant, a food mall offering a variety of options at their student center and even for pizza delivery.
B.U. now offers 11 a-la-carte operations in addition to their five residence dining halls and snack bars. And many colleges, such as Cornell, also offer different menus at each dining hall.
And while a major concern about a points system is that the risks of losing money are too great, officials at many schools say that the financial concern is misplaced.
"Students like it more, and they still spend the money," says Ronald L. Hiser, the financial manager at Dartmouth's dining services.
In addition to diversifying student choices about the kinds of food they eat, many colleges are trying to give students more choices about when they can eat their meals.
Northeastern, Cornell, Tufts, MIT, B.U. and UVM are a few of the schools which offer continuous dining service in at least one location from early in the morning to late at night.
Preserving the House System
But while many schools have made these kinds of changes in their meal plans, Harvard administrators say the types of plans which other schools use will not work here.
When explaining why changing the meal plan is not a good solution to student complaints about Harvard's food, administrators cite the physical limitations of the College's current kitchen facilities and staff, the financial risks of many of the plans--particularly the point system--and the importance of maintaining the house system.
"It is almost impossible to compare Harvard with other colleges. It's like comparing apples and oranges," says Hennessey. "Harvard is unique because of the house system--that's not an excuse, it's just fact."
And while Epps has asked Director of Dining Services Frank J. Weissbecker to revive the House Food Committees, he says he does think Harvard's single-plan system works well.
"The key to good service is constant discussion with undergraduate groups," says Epps.
Meanwhile, it seems unlikely that Harvard will make any big changes to the current meal system. While administrators acknowledge that other school's meal plans may be more diverse, they say Harvard's system has benefits which the others cannot offer.
"The Harvard system exudes a more personal level in a dining service--students aren't just another face in a large cafeteria," says Hennessey. "There's probably not a door checker or server who doesn't know most of their students."
But as Bok said at the Undergraduate Council meeting last Sunday, "There's always the possibility that you could come up with a better idea. You shouldn't let it drop if you're interested."