The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    New reusable to-go boxes have got to go

    Last spring, I ate one meal per day out of a disposable to-go box full of food from The Mane Dish, just like I did the semester before at the Cayman Cafeteria. This year, I was thrown a curve ball when I was handed a green, reusable box that had to be “checked out” using my Southeastern ID. The lady who gave me the wet plastic box didn’t tell me anything about the new policy, but several students said they were told to return the reusable to-go box that same day.

    Sara Patrick

    Sara Patrick

    Last time I checked, The Mane Dish isn’t a library or a Blockbuster, and even those places don’t expect you to return the goods the day you check them out. I don’t go to The Mane Dish for rentals, I go for food, and when you have a schedule as hectic as mine, it’s not always easy to take time out of the day to sit and eat. As it is, the lines are ridiculous during lunchtime. If I’m too busy to sit down for 10 minutes, asking me to return the to-go box is a tad inconvenient. I know I don’t want to be carrying the box around with me all day between work and classes. 

    According to information provided by Martin Balisteri, director of Food Services, to-go containers must be returned to either The Mane Dish or The Mane Market located in Louisiana Hall, there are no due dates for returning to-go boxes, and there are no late fees. Now students will be charged $5 if they would like another box but haven’t returned their first one.  

    I’m a broke college student, as I can assume many of my fellow students are. We pay for higher education. Those of us who live on campus are forced to pay for a meal plan. And what do I get out of that? Certainly not convenience anymore. 

    I used to have options. I used to always find something I liked to eat, but since the new union opened, I find the options are less favorable. Add the new to-go box system into the mix, and I am one unhappy camper.

    I want to eat something that isn’t fast food at least twice a day. Is that so much to ask for? I guess it is, since now this new to-go box system is no longer convenient. I am avoiding to-go boxes altogether because I don’t want to carry around a big plastic box all day while  running around campus. I would prefer to not have to pay $5 for another box just because I’m a typical, way-too-busy senior in college. 

    I keep trying to think of the positives of the new to-go box system, but I’m coming up blank. After discussing with several other students, it seems I’m not the only person who’s unhappy with The Mane Dish. We all miss the good old days when convenience was important, and we all appreciate those old disposable to-go boxes right now. 

    I don’t know about everyone else, but I could not care less about being environmentally friendly. This new system is not student friendly. I’m broke, I’m busy and I’m hungry, so I’ll take the conveniently disposable old to-go boxes back, please.

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