Food is an essential part of life, a resource we literally couldn’t live without – so why is Saint Xavier University’s food so expensive?
Obviously, this is coming from the perspective of someone who isn’t behind the scenes managing the budget, but I am a resident who eats on campus. Also, I am a student who is friends with commuters who pay out of pocket for their food here. So, I think I’m qualified enough to form an opinion on the manner, it’s also in my job description.
The Diner is a great place open to all students of Saint Xavier. Students can grab food and socialize with friends and faculty. RSOs will advertise in the diner and somehow students are able to study and do homework in the diner.
Overall, I think Country Housing Staff does a pretty good job coming up with different options for lunch and dinner everyday. I also like having reoccurring stations. Some days I want a burrito bowl and some weeks I just want soup and salad. I don’t have any complaints about the food quality either.
Although it can feel limited some days and I’ll want something different, I just have to break the bank a little and splurge on food off-campus.
My biggest complaint is the price of food.
On average the breakfast, lunch, and dinner prices in the diner will cost at a minimum $30.00 dollars a day. The price varies depending on the type of drink you get, if you get sauce from the condiment station, or if you want to grab a snack for later.
Coming from someone with a meal plan, I think that’s a lot of money, so I understand when I hear commuters without meal plans complain about the prices. You know the old saying “college students are broke,” well it’s a reality for many of us on this campus.
The diner closes at 7:00 pm, so for residents looking for late night food on campus we have two options.
One, we can order food and have it delivered, or we can walk to Rhubarbs. I think Rhubarb’s is extremely convenient. The food isn’t the most versatile every night and the taste is not that of a five course restaurant, but convenient nonetheless.
One time I walked into Rhubarbs to buy wings and I remembered I don’t have any sauce, so I walked over to the ranch to pick it up. The price on the ranch was almost $6.00 dollars, $6.00 dollars for the smallest ranch known to man is ridiculous.
Again, I don’t have any knowledge about the school’s budget and how much of a profit needs to be made, but I think the prices on the food in the diner and the prices on the food in Rhubarb’s can be lowered.