STAFF EDIT: In defense of dining halls

A possible new building on campus, the East Campus Center, is in talks by Boston University adminstration, the opening of which would call for the closing down of the dining halls in the three easternmost residences on campus, Myles Standish Hall, Shelton Hall and The Towers. While administration touts this potential development as being more state-of-the-art, more environmentally efficient and more comfortable for students, students will also be losing the convenience of having in-residence dining halls. Additionally, the project would likely cost millions ‘- an astronomical figure, especially taking into account the innumerable budget cuts and sacrifices inflicted upon students during this past semester alone.

Administration’s opinion is that the three residence hall dining rooms are out-of-date is valid ‘- but that doesn’t mean they should be discarded entirely. It is part of the college experience for one to be able to walk downstairs to the dining hall with one’s roommates in pajamas and relax over dinner. That which most students complain about when it comes to the east campus halls is their food options, not their design. Taking these dining halls away would force students to leave their dorms for even just a quick meal ‘- the Danielsen Hall students especially would find this inopportune, since as it is they need to trek a considerable distance to get to Myles. A main east campus dining center might end up being more modern and attractive than the existing dining halls, but it would also be overly busy and out of reach ‘- and convenience is what a busy college student needs most, not a Hibachi grill.

The entire operation seems to be a bit shady ‘-‘- it begs the question, where would the money be coming from? All semester, BU has been breaking with new cuts and new revisions ‘- ironically, right after officially opening the doors to its newest high-rise luxury dormitory, the second phase of the Student Village in West Campus. Now, nearing the end of the semester with news of both a possible new building and the possible minimizing of many administrative student service offices, again students are moved to question the priorities of an administration trying to compensate for an ailing economy. While administration seems to be preoccupied with investing in flash, it should keep in mind that it is the current students, not the wallets of prospective students, for whom it exists to serve. A new East Campus Center would be nice, of course, but not if it will require an entire host of sacrifices to fund. Further, eliminating the in-dormitory dining halls would create an extra burden for students who rely on them. Hopefully, the plan will undergo further revision, and funding will materialize, before it is executed.