Ashland University’s dining services have been a highlight of campus for many years. Even when students complain, they do it understanding just how bad on-campus dining could get.

However, with next year’s freshmen class required to purchase the unlimited meal plan, there is some concern among the students of a substantial impact to their dining experience.

“I actually just can imagine how busy Convo is going to be at noon, or at 11 or 1. It’s going to be a lot busier than it is now,” said Eileen Navratil, a sophomore at AU. She is on the unlimited meal plan now.

“I live in the state of Washington and I eat three meals a day so the 240 block plan would not allow me to eat as much as I would like,” she said.

For Navratil, the unlimited plan works. However, there are limitations. The plan restricts students to eating only at Convo, which can be difficult to fit in with a complicated class schedule.

“I don’t think that it’s fair to say ‘Oh you particular group of students’ especially if it is because of class schedules I don’t think its at all fair to say ‘You need to spend additional money,’” she said.

Convo closes throughout the week from 2-4. Although it can affect a small number of students, General Manager of Dining Operations Fred Geib believes moving the afternoon hours to late-night dining.

“Prior to us making the change to close the hours in the afternoon to opening up for late night for dining, our afternoon hour between 2 and 4 has always been an issue,” he said, “Even prior to the flexible meal plan there were not many people in here. At the most you’d maybe see 20-30 people.”

Another drawback is the limited hours on weekend nights. Even with the 240 plan, students are hard-pressed to eat on campus Friday nights.

“You have to go off campus, spend your own money when you already spend well over two thousand dollars on a meal plan and it also drives [students] away from campus. It kind of puts a damper on the whole experience,” said sophomore A.J. Thomas. 

Next year the entire freshman class will be on their own on weekend nights. Convo closes at 7 p.m. on Friday nights and 6:30 on Saturday nights.

“If it is an issue they can always acquire some eagle dollars and if they need to they can always go to the eagles nest and purchase additional meals,” Geib said. He understands the increase demand is a concern for students, but he is confident Convo can handle the changes.

“Prior to the meal plans changing to the blocks…we would serve upwards of 12, 1300 people at a meal,” Geib said. “There’s increased lines but we can handle far more than what were doing now, which is roughly 6-700 for lunch and 800 for dinner. Our capacity to serve more people is there and the seating is there.”

According to Geib, these changes will go into effect next fall with no further adjustments planned.

“As far as I know and from my perspective no that’s it for the coming fall.”