A student organization fighting to expand the dining options for students at the Downtown campus has hit a dead end.
The group, ASU Downtown Alive!, began meeting in September 2010 with the goal of connecting the student body with local eateries, shops and other businesses.
Vaughn Hillyard, the head of the organization, along with members Jessica Goldberg and Sam Tongue, attended a meeting last Wednesday with members of the ASU administration and representatives from the Sun Dollar office and Aramark to discuss new dining options for the Downtown campus.
The understanding, according to Hillyard, was that ASU made a contract with Aramark three years ago until 2023 that would require students to have a meal plan. The lowest-level meal plan requires students to purchase a minimum of 901 Maroon & Gold Dollars.
“Why would ASU ever sign a contract when it makes it so costly to students and so costly to the surrounding neighborhoods?” Hillyard asked.
One of the suggestions ASU Downtown Alive! made during the meeting was to split meal plans into Sun Dollars and M&G. The M&G are run through Aramark, however — and, according to the contract, the $901 that students can purchase under the basic meal plan must be M&G.
Hillyard said that since Aramark has control of both the minimum amount of M&G students are required to purchase and the amount they charge for their food, students have very limited options.
Cobi Silver, a junior majoring in social work and a Taylor Place resident, said she appreciates the efforts ASU Downtown Alive! is making. She said she feels trapped when it comes to dining downtown.
“I feel very limited in my dining options downtown,” Silver said. “There are not many restaurants we can choose from that accept M&G, so a lot of times, I end up eating the same thing again and again.”
Hillyard said ASU Downtown Alive! has also run into obstacles trying to persuade businesses to take M&G. Since a part of every purchase using M&G will go to Aramark, some business, such as Subway, are hesitant to participate in the program.
Sam Tongue, a member of ASU Downtown Alive!, has worked closely on the efforts to create change around campus, but he said he thinks there are not many options available.
“It’s really difficult to find businesses that are willing to invest in a down economy,” Tongue said, “but also that it’s not Tempe where we have 50,000 students, so it’s a little bit more difficult for business to make that leap.”
ASU Downtown Alive! also plans to work with nearby business to create discounts or deals for students.
“I like that Downtown Alive! is advocating to improve the student experience,” Silver said. “ASU Downtown is an amazing campus. I’m only sad that I will graduate before it really develops and has all the awesome amenities and choices ASU Tempe enjoys.”
Contact the reporter at aquiroz2@asu.edu
