Dining uncertainty may re-open Commons

By Emily Gold

When Berkeleyites move into the new "swing space" housing in the fall of 1998, they will find amenities beyond residential college standards--air-conditioning, cable TV, and kitchenettes. But while the new dorm will be luxurious, it will be lacking a basic staple --a dining hall. Lack of space may force the University to re-open Commons for dinner, a popular tradition that ended in 1991 due to budget-cutting.

University Planner Pamela Delphenich said that building a new dining hall for the swing facility would not be cost effective. This policy leaves over 200 students without a definite place to eat. "It's an unprecedented situation," John Meeske, JE '74, associate dean of Yale College, said. "We'll have to offer a newly-conceived meal plan for the students living in the swing space. Everyone recognizes that since there won't be a dining facility, and there will be kitchennettes, these students shouldn't be held responsible for 21 meals."

The exact number and location of these dining hall meals, however, is still up for discussion, and reopening Commons is a possibility under heavy consideration.

"Offering dinner at Commons for these students is a feasible option, if that's what they want," Al Kenney, director of dining halls, said. "If we did open it, Commons would probably be open from Sunday to Thursday, to both Berkeley students and [their guests] from other colleges."

Commons has not been open for dinner since 1991, when the era of its freshman dinners came to an unexpected end. Since then, freshmen have simply gone to their own residential colleges for their evening meal. "The main question is whether there's enough student interest and support to re-open it," Kenney said. "We're not dreaming up things to force people into what they don't want. If we don't have enough people who want Commons open for dinner, it will be financially difficult to keep it open."

Lauren Beslow, BK '99, stated that she didn't see the need for a re-opened Commons. "People in the swing space aren't going to want to trek all the way over to Commons for dinner," said Beslow. "I plan on just eating in Morse or Ezra Stiles."

If everyone living in the swing space does this, however, Morse and Stiles will feel the burden in the form of overcrowded dining halls. While these colleges will be able to serve some of the swing students, it is clear that they cannot all be accomodated. "We are concerned," said Morse Master Stanton Wheeler. "We're good institutional citizens, and we understand the need for the swing space. We'll have to figure out a way to deal creatively with the dining hall issue if it turns out to be a problem."

Still, many future swing space residents are more interested in eating in their own suites than in any dining hall. "Since we're going to have kitchennettes, I plan to cook for myself a lot," said Mary Brinig, BK '99. "I'd like to be on a meal plan with about eight or 10 meals in the dining halls a week." Ji-Young Sohn, BK '99, agreed. "Since we're not going to have a dining hall right near us, they should let us be on a really flexible plan."

Berkeley Master Harry Stout stated that he is not worried that the absence of a college-affiliated dining hall will weaken the Berkeley community. "I'm in favor of giving the students as much flexibility as they want in their meal plan," Stout said. "There are so many other ways to build a strong community...we are limited only by our imaginations."

An official decision on this matter will not be made until next year. Meeske noted that it will probably be the result of a dining proposal in consultation with the Yale College Dean's Office. Such a proposal would then be approved by either the President's office or the Yale Corporation. Back to News...