"We addressed that last year," he said. "And the administrators' response was that to make it economically feasible, we need the outside money. When Sanders Theatre lets out, they are depending on those people to buy coffee and desserts."

Coffey praised the new policy.

"I think it's a good move," he said. "They're going to have to focus on students. Now that the Sanders Theatre coffee crowd isn't there, maybe it will move away from fancy desserts more toward snack food."

But Coffey expressed concern about the possible consequences of the lost revenue.

"I would hate to see them start raising rates and finding ways to raise money," he said.

Engel said he hoped people would understand that the reason the facility was not limited to Harvard affiliates before was so visitors and guests of Harvard could be served there.

"Our agenda from the opening of Loker was not so we could get rich selling food to the public but so we could welcome people visiting the complex," he said.

The new policy will allow accompanied guests of the Harvard community to purchase food at Loker.

In other Loker news, flyers at the commons yesterday announced that free coffee and snacks will be available in the coffeehouse from 1:30 to 2:30 a.m. nightly, from May 4 to May 24