Freshmen living on campus their first year all enjoy the feeling of freedom with their newly purchased dining plans at BYU. Stepping back and analyzing this statement, one question becomes apparent: Why do these students have to have these dining plans? Is there a downside to just using a credit or debit card? Should the university force students to pay a set amount each month for food? More money could possibly be saved and first year students would learn firsthand to be frugal with their money. This is why it is completely unreasonable to force on campus students to have a dining plan. If desired, one can be bought, but if not then there should be no restriction for one to try and live within their means.
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5 comments:
I think a reason for the meal plans is one that coming out of high school, not a lot of kids have experience with rationing and keeping track of finances. I think the meal plans are just somewhat of a security blanket for us to fall back on so that we can keep our minds focused on other things besides worrying about if we have enough money to eat that day. I agree though that it should be optional, but strongly recommended. I bet even if they did make it optional, a lot of people would still buy it due to convenience.
The dinning card is amazing. i don't live on campus and my parents don't pay for my meals. A set place like that to me is like the three glories of heaven combined.
I agree that it should be optional, but the dining cards are GREAT for freshman....I wouldn't have known how to shop and stuff without one...also living in the dorms limits your ability to cook and stuff since there is no oven/microwave/fridge in your rooms making it nearly impossible to cook or prepare a meal.(I speak from Helaman Halls experience)
You make a good point David. I am a freshman living off-campus and do not have a dining plan, that was my choice. There are times I wish that I had one, but it has helped me to "grow up" and prepare myself for my mission. I'm not going to have the luxury, if you will, of being able to go to the Cannon Center when I'm hungry. Overall I think that they should be optional, with a strong recommendation, as Scott said.
Everyone gave some great counterpoints, that should help you write a strong opinion editorial. The key really is to think about the people you need to convince--administrators, and why they put this policy into effect in the first place, three or four years ago. Then you tailor your arguments to them. Right now, this may seem a bit whiny to an administrator, like a rant. To establish your ethos, you'll have to show that you really do understand all of the good reasons for the policy, and then show that the bad effects outweigh some of the good benefits.
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