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BY MATT BLEIMAN

In print | November 29, 2007

Recently, there has been confusion regarding the Essie Mae’s Snack Bar’s charges for sandwiches.

Despite speculations that Essie Mae’s would be raising its prices for extras on sandwiches, there will be no changes in pricing of items, just a clarification, according to Dining Services’ Cash Operations Manager Gusti Ruhri, who said that the charge for additional toppings had always been there but was often ignored.

“It’s slipped through and has to stop,” Ruhri said. With prices of food rising, the additional toppings can add up in the costs for Dining Services.

Sandwiches at Essie Mae’s Snack Bar come with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and one topping.

They also include chips, pickles, and a 12 oz. drink. Any more toppings on the sandwich are an additional charge, which varies based on topping. “gotten out of hand with all these extras,” Ruhri said. “have to know [that they] have to pay more because up here it is not all you can eat.”

The limit on included toppings is the price one pays for the variety of the different food at Essie Mae’s. To clarify the difference between Sharples and Essie Mae’s, Ruhri said, “You can go to Sharples for all you can eat. Here you have choices.” Ruhri said that she wants students to have choices and does not want to take things away. She believes that the clarification is justified because this is the way the system has always worked but was just never properly followed.

The enforcement of the extra charges for additional toppings, Ruhri believes, should not deter students from going to Essie Mae’s Snack Bar. “It is nice to come here. You have great service and variety and that is the beauty of it,” Ruhri said.

The boards in the Snack Bar will now clearly state that there will be an additional charge for extra sandwich toppings and will list the prices for each.

Ruhri has had some student feedback about the clarification of the pricing of sandwiches. “Most of the students that come said they understand,” Ruhri said. She has not heard any negative feedback. She believes that by providing guest checks, on which servers write the specifics of an order, it will not be any harder for the students because the checks will tell the cashiers what the proper charge should be.

Dining Services Director Linda McDougall said that she has not yet heard feedback from students. Even so, she said, “I was asked by Student Council to send out a clarification to the student body and I am in the process of doing that now.” Last Monday, McDougall sent an e-mail notification to the student body describing the clarification and the prices of extras.

Student Council has received some feedback about the issue. “We have gotten a few students who were concerned because they have to use more points for extras,” said Student Council President Peter Gardner ’08.

Because the new clarifications were just recently implemented, Student Council is now waiting for any more feedback. For the time being, Student Council believes that Linda McDougall is doing what is necessary to keep Essie Mae’s economical.

“Dining Services is not out there to make a profit. They are here to feed the students good food and I trust [Linda McDougall] to do that,” said Gardner.

Gardner suspects that the Council will receive feedback in the coming weeks once students see how it affects them.

“If students start to believe this is a big issue and we need to open up dialogue with Dining Services, then we will,” Gardner said. “If not, then we just have to trust Linda – she does a fantastic job.”

The new clarification methods recently went into effect at Essie Mae’s Snack Bar. Students can send any opinions on the issue to Student Council and also to the Dining Committee.

A guide to pricing for sandwiches

Extra Toppings:

Peppers, Onions or Lettuce (each) – $0.25
Cheese (2), Tomato (2) or Pesto – $0.50
Meat (2 slices) or Bacon (3 slices) – $0.75
On Wheat Wrap – $0.25
On Bagel – $0.30

Basic Sandwiches:

Toast (2 slices) – $0.50
Roll – $0.25
Peanut butter & jelly – $2.00
BLT – $2.95
Hoagie or Club – $3.50

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