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Posts tagged ‘dining halls’

Mar 10

4 Comments

The Dining Hall Question

Ever since the macroeconomy nearly collapsed, I’ve been convinced Middlebury’s Utopian dining hall system would not last. Within the context of a leaner College, it would seem logical to modify our open dining hall system.  In a post today on his blog, President Liebowitz hinted that the he is now taking a hard look at the issue. He writes that the current system “seems ludicrous” from a purely financial perspective.  But he also discusses how the dining hall system is valuable to the Middlebury experience.

President Liebowitz is certainly doing the necessary political posturing if he wants to modify the system.  Unilaterally changing the cherished set-up without input would cause an uprising (I exaggerate, but people would be pissed).  Beyond President Liebowitz’s possible politicking, he seems to get that the dining hall system is important. His post is thoughtful and genuinely asks for input into what part of the dining hall system is most important for the Middlebury experience.

This issue isn’t easy.  In my mind, the dining hall system brings our student body together.  Any student can go to Ross or Proct[eu]r and relax with friends.  There’s no swiping or meal plan standing between us and our ideal socialist society.  Which, all kidding aside, is really valuable.  Liberal Arts Colleges are by definition not the real world, and equalizing the student body by not having a meal plan furthers our goals as an institution.

And yet, within the context of the recession, changing our expensive system seems to be something we should at least consider. In this discussion, I think it’s also important to acknowledge that the food has in, in my mind, gotten noticeably worse in the past year. (Anyone who disagrees should try the new replacement cream cheese.)

Ultimately, I believe the dining hall system plays a critical role in bringing out the best parts of Middlebury: community, friendships and open-mindedness.  We should make sacrifices to retain this essential part of the Middlebury experience.

Regardless, I think President Liebowitz is being sincere in asking for input. 

So I encourage you to read President Liebowitz’s post and drop a comment.

Jan 2

2 Comments

Where Do You Eat?

A negative comment in response to Ryan’s post about the Farmers Diner coming to Middlebury prompted me to check out the Vermont Department of Health Food and Lodging Program Inspection Report. Restaurants undergo a 44-item inspection. Of the 44, 31 items measure non-critical aspects of a restaurant, such as construction (flooring, plumbing, etc.) and overall cleanliness (proper garbage containers, clean bathrooms, etc.) However, 13 items are critical, meaning “there is a high likelihood of illness if left uncorrected.” Restaurants can score a maximum of 100 points; scores of 70 are lower mean a restaurant will be asked to close until its violations can be addressed.

Although I was on a quest to see how Middlebury-area restaurants fare health-wise, I discovered Middlebury College’s dining halls and other food establishments have also been inspected by the VT DoH. Below is a summary of the reports:

51 Main Street: 95/100 points on 3/28/2008 – lost points on 4 non-critical items.

Freeman International Center: 90/100 points on 1/16/2008 – lost 5 points on 4 non-critical items; lost 5 points on 1 critical item: Necessary toxic items must be properly stored, separated, labeled, and used.

The Grille: 87/100 points on 1/16/2008 – lost 8 points on 6 non-critical items; lost 5 points on 1 critical item: Potentially hazardous food meets time and temperature requirements during storage, preparation, display, service and transportation.

Kirk Alumni Center Dining: 94/100 on 6/5/2008 – lost 2 points on 2 non-critical items; lost 4 points on 1 critical item: Adequate, convenient and properly maintained toilet facilities are available.

Atwater Dining Hall: 87/100 on 1/16/2008 – lost 3 points on 2 non-critical items; lost 10 points on 2 critical items: Potentially hazardous food meets time and temperature requirements during storage, preparation, display, service and transportation. Personnel must wash hands and use good hygienic practices, be free of jewelry and have nails trimmed.

Proctor Dining Hall: 87/100 on 1/16/2008 – lost 8 points on 5 non-critical items; lost 5 points on 1 critical item: Necessary toxic items must be properly stored, separated, labeled, and used.

Ross Dining Hall: 87/100 on 1/16/2008 – lost 8 points on 5 non-critical items; lost 5 points on 1 critical item: Necessary toxic items must be properly stored, separated, labeled, and used.

Although all of Middlebury’s dining halls and other food establishments have a few improvements to make, I think Middlebury students can rest assured that they–and especially their food–are in good hands. It is important to note that many of Middlebury’s food inspections occurred approximately one year ago; I am confident that Matthew Biette and our dining hall employees have worked hard to correct the problems. Moreover, Middlebury dining halls tend to fare better than other popular Midd Kid hotspots like the China House (76), Mr. Ups (75), Steve’s Park Diner (85), and Taste of India (84).

MiddBlog will keep an eye out for the upcoming DoH inspections and will report on all of Middlebury’s improvements.

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