Students ask for burgers, fries

Students still want to spend their meal points on hamburgers and fries.\nThe Meal Plan Committee reviewed student feedback at its Friday meeting and discovered students' top choices for a restaurant at Read are Wendy's, Arby's or McDonald's, which currently occupies the spot.\nGovernors from each residence center collected student feedback by asking residents for their opinions of what qualities they wanted in a restaurant and the specific names of restaurants they wanted. Meal Plan Committee members also talked to any students who wanted to share their thoughts.\n"I think the list is representative of the desires of our residents," said Matt Jarson, president of Foster Quad and a Meal Plan Committee member. "Nothing is on there that wasn't mentioned in our meetings and interactions with residents."\nAlthough there has been controversy surrounding the return of McDonald's, Meal Plan Committee Chairman Sam Scarpino was not surprised that McDonald's made the list, despite differing opinions.\n"It didn't surprise me just because having a recognized brand is really important to students," he said. "A lot of people like McDonald's and like that kind of food."\nStudents also felt strongly about the other two restaurants. Wendy's was popular because of the variety of items on its menu, which offers unique favorites like chili and baked potatoes. Students liked the idea of Arby's because it has roast beef choices, breakfast items, different kinds of fries and jamocha shakes, said meeting participants. \n"We are moving towards a better quality (of food), I think," Jarson said. \nBoth students and committee members tossed aside the idea of a Subway when they realized the presence of other sandwich restaurants like Dagwood's and Jimmy John's that are close to campus and deliver, as well as the on-campus sub shop Stacks, Scarpino said.\nNo matter which restaurant RPS chooses, dining services representatives still want RPS to own the franchise. This issue was briefly addressed at Friday's meeting, and Sandra Fowler, director of dining services, said she didn't think it would be hard to find other franchises that would let RPS run a franchise, even though McDonald's has refused to franchise to RPS. \nThe next step in the process is for RPS officials to review the list of restaurants the Meal Plan Committee recommended and write a Request for Proposal, which will take approximately six weeks to two months, Fowler said at the meeting. They will then bid the contract out to the companies and they will have around 90 days to respond. Fowler said RPS hopes to make its final selection by March.