Most students are pleased with the bag lunch option to be offered in Loker Commons next semester, but many already have concerns with the details of the plan.

Next fall, upper-class students will be able to get a bag lunch in Loker without spending Crimson Cash or Board Plus.

The cost of the lunches will be deducted from the students' meal plans.

Students interviewed in Loker yesterday afternoon expressed relief that it would now be cheaper and more convenient to grab a mid-day bite.

"I think it's a good idea," said Jennifer A. Swanson '99. "It's really hard sometimes to think ahead, pick a bag up in the morning, and carry it around all day."

The regular lunch hours of the plan were a cause for concern among some students.

"It would be useful to extend the hours past 2 p.m. because a lot of people have class from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.," said Liesje U. Spaepen '01.

Another student said the new option could potentially create long lines.

"The drawback, it seems to me, is that it will be incredibly crowded," said Maryann Cockerill '00.

Some students said the plan would be unfair to incoming first-years, who will not be eligible for the Loker bag lunches.

"If I were an incoming freshman, I would be a bit angry, and I'd feel a bit left out," said Jason S. Morrow '01.

Other students felt that this was a petty concern.

"Annenberg is right there. The issue is distance from the houses," said Michael L. Morris '01.

Harvard Dining Services director Ted A. Mayer said he hoped the new option would not reduce the vitality of the house system.

Many students said they were rarely able to get back to their own houses for lunch anyway, and most cited dinner as the most important meal socially.

Some students expressed dissatisfaction with Harvard meal plans in general.

"Meal plans here are very inflexible," Morris said. "I think they should look into making more than one meal plan available."