Although Sodexo has released updates regarding summer renovations in the Usdan Student Center, definitive structures for next year's meal plans have yet to be released. Students will be deciding their housing situations for the next academic year within the next few weeks and, in tandem, they will select a meal plan. Any new updates on meal plans will come from the University, and will likely be announced to the student body soon, according to Jay DeGioia, the regional district manager for Sodexo.

The new meal plan structure that was initially proposed for fall 2014 eliminates meal equivalencies so that students can only use meal swipes at the all-you-can eat dining establishments, Sherman Dining Hall and the soon-to-be renovated Usdan Caf?(c), according to a Jan. 28 article in the Justice. Retail locations would only accept points. However, no definitive meal plans have been released to the student body in conjunction with the anticipated change. Housing selection begins on March 9, starting with the process for current first-years.

According to Class of 2017 Senator and Senate Chair of the Senate Dining Committee David Heaton in an email to the Justice, after several members of the Senate Dining Committee met with Sodexo last Thursday, he and Student Union Vice President Charlotte Franco '15 reached out to both DeGioia and Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel in order to "gauge some sort of timeline for the finalization of next year's meal plans." Heaton wrote that he and Franco are also in the process of scheduling another meeting with DeGioia and Flagel in order to discuss where Sodexo and the University are in the process of determining the meal plans.

"As the housing selection process is just around the corner, we adamantly believe that students have the right to know [what] the meal plan options for next year will be," Heaton wrote.

Despite the proposal to keep meal swipes only at all-you-can-eat locations, Heaton said in an interview with the Justice that the Dining Committee is advocating for Louis' Deli to accept meal swipes in addition to points. "I think it's really important that kosher students have a good place to eat on that side of campus," Heaton said in an interview with the Justice.

DeGioia wrote in an email to the Justice that, though no concrete plans have been made to expand the selection of items that students can currently purchase with meal equivalencies at the deli, Sodexo will soon add more grocery items to the delicatessen's menu such as meats by the pound, as well as daily sandwich specials and a catering guide. According to Heaton, the Dining Committee is also in the process of trying to add hours to the deli's schedule on Saturday nights to increase the options for kosher students on campus.

Students have expressed complaints on the Senate Dining Committee Facebook page that the University does not offer pork or shellfish for students who do not follow Jewish dietary laws.

Sodexo plans to meet the demand for these non-kosher items, according to Heaton, who told the Justice that when the Sodexo food truck returns to campus today, it will include pork and shellfish items on its menu. Heaton said that the food truck will now also accept points as payment. If the acceptance of points at the food truck expands the amount of business that the truck receives, Heaton said, the University will consider expanding the hours that the truck is on campus or possibly bring a second truck to campus.

Usdan will also undergo renovations this summer. DeGioia wrote in an email to the Justice that Usdan Caf?(c) "will be completely redesigned as a second all-you-care-to-eat resident dining hall" similar to Sherman, with a Mongolian grill station, a pizza and pasta station, an American-style grill, a deli, a vegan station, a salad bar, desserts, ice cream and a station that alternates between offering international food and comfort food. DeGioia also wrote that the plans include an area for both the MyZone and Simple Servings offerings, which will provide allergen-free food, similar to those in Sherman. A new carousel design for collecting dishes will be implemented in Usdan Caf?(c) in the hopes of reducing paper waste and eliminating the need for any trays, DeGioia wrote.

The renovation plans will eliminate the current option for students to take food out of Usdan Caf?(c), DeGioia wrote. However, Sodexo will continue to move ahead with plans to reintroduce reusable to-go containers in a system similar to the one used during previous years, according to DeGioia. Changes will also occur in Usdan Boulevard, DeGioia wrote, offering students more take-out options. According to DeGoia, the pizza station will receive a hearth, and will begin to offer pasta, casseroles and weekly international specials.

The Grill will remain in Usdan Boulevard, as will the Coca-Cola machines and an expanded grab-and-go section, but students visiting Usdan Boulevard will experience one significant addition, the national brand Curritos, DeGioia wrote.

According to Heaton, the realization that renovations to Usdan Caf?(c) will eliminate an offering of Mexican food catalyzed the decision to bring a national brand with a Mexican menu to campus.

Moving upstairs from Usdan Caf?(c), a new sushi bar will be established outside of Usdan Boulevard, according to DeGioia, who wrote that students would be able to sit at the sushi bar and watch their food prepared freshly in front of their eyes.
DeGioia wrote in an email to the Justice that, provided current testing goes well, Sodexo will launch a web-based ordering system at Louis' Deli that will allow students to order from their smart phones, computers or a kiosk located at the delicatessen.

Renovations at The Stein have come to a standstill as Brandeis awaits permits from the city of Waltham, according to DeGioia. Brandeis cannot commence construction at The Stein until the city issues the permits necessary for construction.
Since the University cannot estimate when that will occur, the opening date for The Stein remains undeterminable, according to Heaton. DeGioia wrote in an email to the Justice that "the school is working diligently to acquire" these permits, and the location underwent preparations so that construction can begin as soon as the University receives approval.

"Since there is a delay in opening, we have been looking for other options for an on campus weekend late night social experience," DeGioia wrote to the Justice. To fill this gap, the University will offer an alternative location for students of age to purchase alcohol on campus, according to Heaton.

DeGioia told the Justice that starting on Thursday, March 6, Usdan will serve beer and wine from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays in Usdan Boulevard, and Saturdays in Usdan Caf?(c).