Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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been uncommon sights this long as they can get that year as the meal plan satisfied feeling after a hot, guardians came down hearty meal. ■ harder on violators than they have in the past. There are four Food Serv- ices outlets where students can use a meal ticket. These are spread all over the campus. Although these appear to provide a wide choice of dining locations, the place to eat weeknight su ppers and all weekend meals is restricted to the Tiger Den. This does not create a complete inconven- ience, but it does limit the possibilities. Another limitation for students is the restriction on meal times. According to the Food Services contract, a meal ticket may only be used once during any one meal ' s serving period. These periods are outlined by Food Services and are strictly upheld. For in- stance, because dinner begins at 4:00 p.m., a stu- dent who missed lunch may not use his card to eat twice between four and midnight. Due to these designated times and possible missed meals, a missed meal fac- tor is already figured into the price of each plan. In essence, the prices are lower because of possible missed meals. Sometimes having a meal plan can be an inconven- ience, but it does have its advantages. Food Services provides already prepared and paid for real food, with some all-you-can-eat items, at a relatively low price. And the cafeterias are places to socialize while someone else does the cooking and cleaning, too. For many, the sacrifices and hassles are tolerable as Melynda Howell Real food is easily available to meal card holders like Eric Gaither, who has invested part of his budget in order to have access to entire meals. However, some re- strictions do apply to these cards. For example, a meal ticket may only be used once during any one meal ' s serving period. Devin Greaney Man cannot live by bread alone. Tiger Den, the main cafeteria, of- fers Italian food , as well as fast food and frozen yogurt. Melissa Flanigan smiles as she receives part of her home-cooked meal from Karen Richardson, a Food Services em- ployee. Perhaps one of the best as- pects of having a full-service cafe- teria is not having to cook or clean- up after a meal. Devin Greaney food services

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A Full Meal Deal Meal plans are designed to fit the student Re weal food, what every dorm resident dreams of. It seems that, as a rule, there simply isn ' t enough room in the regulation refrigerator, or even enough money in the regulation collegiate checking account, for such delicacies as real food. So what is a student to do? Survive off of cold cereal and peanut butter sand- wiches for four years? Per- haps. But wouldn ' t it be easier to simply buy a meal plan? Maybe. Maybe not. pope, 76 Obtaining a Food Serv- ices meal plan only requires money, a smile for the I.D. photo, and a signature on the contract. To help meet the needs of each student and each student ' s budget, the service offers a choice of three different meal plans and or a just-like-cash coupon book. Choose, pay, smile, sign. That ' s the easy part. Then comes the accep- tance of and adjustment to each rule and regulation that a simple signature adheres a student to. For many students, to the dis- may of the Food Services administration, this is the most difficult. Yes, generos- ity is a virtue; however, sharing any food purchased by a meal plan is a breach of contract punishable by in- validation without a refund. In other words, students must keep their friends ' hands out of their plates in order to keep the meal plan that the student paid sev- eral hundred dollars for in the first place. Along the same lines, meal plan food may not be taken out of the cafeteria. In addition, certain foods may only be eaten in specified amounts at certain times in order to comply with meal plan standards. On the other hand, it may be com- forting for meal plan stu- dents to know that they alone can use the card. Food Services employees and administrators are far from shy about enforcing such rules and will not hesitate to point out any violation. In fact, trays being snatched up and stu- dents being confronted both at the register and in the dining room have not tales of tiger

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Playing Games Sometimes a college student needs to forget the books and relax T h he Side Pocket. The name suggests a room of pool tables, beer buddies and dart boards. Close. Really it ' s the university game room, where hun- dreds of students vent frus- tration, make conversation and simply relax each day. Whether students play table tennis, air hockey or foosball (table soccer), a willing opponent is usually nearby. Pool skills can al- ways be sharpened, and learning a few moves never hurt anyone. Three pinball machines provide a blast from the past, while many quarter-eating video mon- sters line the walls. This popular hangout provides refuge for ap- Operation Wolf is a very popular game among many of the students who frequent the Side Pocket. Eric Beaupre shows that a steady hand and a sharp eye will master any game. Devin Greaney proximately 800 to 1,300 college students per day. Located on the first floor across from the bookstore in the University Center, the Side Pocket is both owned and operated by the university. This, to the de- light of many cue-holders, enables the cost of playing games to be considerably lower than what is paid off- campus. Is the business profitable to this, university? Yes and no. It is, in the sense that students benefit from hav- ing a place to socialize. For many, shooting a few games « ' tales of tigers