Although Harvard's plan appears to offer much less flexibility than the four other meal-plans, it is similar in cost.

Harvard's take-it-or-leave-it meal plan goes for $3336 per year. The plan's cost stands in the middle of the four colleges full 19 to 21 meal-per-week plans. Stanford charges $3920, Princeton's meal plan costs $3425, Yale, $3100 and Brown, $2552.

But all offer at least one plan with reduced meals that costs less than Harvard's one choice deal.

Although students have called for a more flexible plan in the past, Board Plus has been one of the few large concessions from HDS in recent years.

When asked whether a more flexible plan was in the works for Harvard, Mayer says he is hesitant to promise changes at this point.

"I'm not familiar with the details yet," says Mayer who will officially take charge of HDS on June 1.

However, Mayer expresses concern over changes that would jeopardize Harvard's "unique and exceptional" house system.

With a more meal plan, Mayer says, "You might end up eroding the system that Harvard has."

"You might run the risk of people leaving and not going to houses to eat," he says.

But despite Yale's flexible system, students say the plan doesn't hinder the College's meal-time ambiance.

"After a long day, it's nice to go to a place where you can see all of your friends," says Michael J. Burstein, a sophomore at Yale.

"[The dining halls] are the focus of the college community," he says.

Universal Gripes

Despite varied meal plans, students at all colleges find common ground in complaining about their school's food.

"[Brown's Dining Services] try to experiment with ethnic dishes," says Bapat. "They're an insult to my Indian heritage."