Doing lunch at Levering Hall

Though few students voiced incredible enthusiasm in support of the restoration of Levering Dining Services as a meal equivalency option, it appears that many of those students on the meal plan, will lunch there for the sake of convenience and the prospect of variety.

The reinstatement of this dining choice took place on October 21. Since that date, students may use one of their allotted meals in the facility's cafeteria between 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. An e-mail sent out to the student body and faculty two weeks ago informed the JHU community of the change in meal plan options and sited increased traffic in the southern portion of campus due to Hodson Hall as reason for its installation.

The perception of this new traffic pattern is a valid one, as many students note that they visit the southern portion of campus more frequently. Levering is in fact closer than any of the other dinning facilities for those leaving Hodson Hall and looking for a quick bite of lunch. Though sophomore Jamie Graziano has only eaten at Levering once, he now sees the facility as a probable future meal site.

"All of my classes are in Hodson or on the Engineering quad," he commented. "For convenience, I'd go there during the gap between my classes."

For other students it is the food itself and the more diverse options available at Levering that will make a stop there part of their day. Levering Hall boasts both The Marketplace, a mini food court featuring Eurasian Sensations, a cooked-to-order station, and Garden Dreams, a gourmet salad bar, and Under the Dome, a food court containing Illuminations Deli and Pizza Hut Express.

On her first visit to Levering, Jessica Youdin, a freshman, expressed approval of the dining facility and the chicken salad she had assembled for lunch. "The food is so much better. There's more to choose from and the portions are generous," she said. Earlier this week, students dining in Levering at lunchtime were surveyed briefly about their overall meal experience. Of the 10 questioned, nine were entirely pleased with their meal and the service they received, and one was satisfied with the service but not the meal.

The only dissatisfaction voiced by students was with the amount of money allotted for meal equivalency. Students on the meal plan may use up to $4.25 for lunch. Though this sentiment seems more reflective of the system as a whole, it is particularly evident at Levering where students find prices to be a bit higher. At least one student felt that higher prices taint the overall dinning experience. "I'm not real happy. I'll admit the food is better, but not that much better to warrant the a la carte prices," said sophomore Alex Kramer. He also feels that besides sushi, there are few novel items offered and when and if he meal equivs at Levering, he's eating "about a quarter of the amount of food" that he would eat at Wolman.

Tarik Nageddine shared these sentiments but is a little less bitter. "There's more diversity, but they make you pay," the sophomore commented, adding that the curly fries on which he was munching were a Levering "plus."

Thus, though no one loves the meal plan, it appears as though Levering meal equivalency is a welcome addition for most students, despite gripes about prices. And while many students surveyed seem only casually excited about the new choice, at least one is genuinely enthusiastic: "Levering is awesome. Big ups to Levering," said sophomore Patrick Reiner.