Meal plans let you dish and dine
By: Xiaoxi Wan
Issue date: 3/17/09 Section: Opinion
As a cafeteria employee and as a reporter, I have heard many evaluations of Eastern New Mexico University's cafeteria. Is the food good or bad? Are there enough choices?
But I don't want to debate the food. That's not important. What is important is that the meal plan is mainly for the students who live in the residence halls and don't have cooking facilities. When they take a meal plan, they get something more than food.
College years are a very important time for students to develop their own personality and values. We can learn much from classes, but also we need to learn how to communicate with others and make friends at the same time, especially as freshmen. For freshmen, ENMU is an unfamiliar environment and they need to become familiar with it as soon as possible. The meal plan can give them that chance.
Every mealtime, we cafeteria employees can hear the laughter in the cafeteria. Students are talking with each other and exchanging information. During their meals, students can see old friends, make new ones, and talk about academic problems or discuss exciting topics.
Eating in the cafeteria doesn't automatically make you friends; it's still up to you. If you sit in a corner all the time, not interacting, you won't gain any benefits.
But I don't want to debate the food. That's not important. What is important is that the meal plan is mainly for the students who live in the residence halls and don't have cooking facilities. When they take a meal plan, they get something more than food.
College years are a very important time for students to develop their own personality and values. We can learn much from classes, but also we need to learn how to communicate with others and make friends at the same time, especially as freshmen. For freshmen, ENMU is an unfamiliar environment and they need to become familiar with it as soon as possible. The meal plan can give them that chance.
Every mealtime, we cafeteria employees can hear the laughter in the cafeteria. Students are talking with each other and exchanging information. During their meals, students can see old friends, make new ones, and talk about academic problems or discuss exciting topics.
Eating in the cafeteria doesn't automatically make you friends; it's still up to you. If you sit in a corner all the time, not interacting, you won't gain any benefits.