Written for The Argo by Laura Leonel and Mary DeRose.

On December 5, 2024 Stockton’s Student Senate hosted a town hall in the Campus Center Theatre with Chartwells Representatives from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m to discuss the new change in meal plans.

Next semester in Spring 2025, Stockton University and Stockton Dining will be piloting two plans: the A-B-C Meal Exchange and the Osprey Connect Dining Dollars Program. The current Meal Equivalency Plan will transition to a Meal Exchange, where students can select: A) entrée, B) side, and C) beverage. The second pilot will be the Osprey Connect Dining Dollars Program for full-time, undergraduate students without a meal plan. The $200 plan provides students with $200 in dining dollars, which can be spent at any of Chartwells’ on-campus dining locations. 

“Attending the Chartwells forum will provide students with a better understanding of the changes that are happening; I encourage students to attend so that their voices can be heard,” said Student Senate President, Andrea Sandoval.

After hosting the forum on Thursday, Sandoval spoke with The Argo Editor-in-Chief, Mary DeRose, via Instagram about the results of the Chartwells event. The focus was heavily on the representation of the students and whether or not they will be positively impacted by these changes. When asked what the main concerns were of the students who attend the event, Sandoval said the following: “Students were most concerned about the additional $200 added to their bills if they did not already have a meal plan. Students asked why it was an opt-out option rather than an opt-in option. They were concerned that students would forget to opt out of the $200.” She also reminded that this charge only applies to full-time undergraduate students.

On whether or not Chartwells was sympathetic of the students’ voices, Sandoval had a positive response. “Chartwells were receptive to the students! They could answer some questions, but some could not be answered since some of the questions needed to be answered by the Bursar’s Office or the Veteran’s Office.”

Sandoval then gave her opinion when asked if she believed these dining changes would benefit the student body. “After being present at the forum,” she began, “I think the changes will benefit some students, but not all. Chartwells emphasized how students could save money by not paying taxes on food purchases. Chartwells brought up how it would help students facing food insecurity on campus.”

Food insecurity, however, is not an umbrella phrase in Sandoval’s eyes. “I have mixed opinions about Chartwells throwing around the term, food insecurity,” she said, “especially when answers to questions about food insecurity were answered poorly. It felt like they were using that as a justification for their changes, even though the changes are happening to due other reasons unrelated to food security.”

The forum itself was an environment that Stockton has seen before, looking back at President Bertolino’s Town Hall last March. To round out the interview, Sandoval was asked if there is the potential for more town hall events for students. To this, she said, “I would like to have more town halls or see more for students in the future. While we did not have a packed room, the attending students asked important and insightful questions.” Despite turn out, Sandoval believed that the event was successful because those who attended can relay the information to friends, classmates, and other Stockton clubs and organizations.

“Town halls allow students to learn about changes happening on campus and ask any questions they may have,” stated Sandoval, “I believe this is the best way for students to voice their concerns.”

For any questions pertaining dining, please visit the Meal Plans and Rates section of the Bursar’s Office tab on Stockton’s website.