Every Monday and Wednesday on my break between my 8 a.m. statistics class and my 10:50 a.m. organic chemistry class, I go to Jazzman’s and get my caramel latte and everything bagel with cream cheese. This costs about six Dining Dollars; that’s a lot for a bagel and a coffee, especially when I go twice a week all semester.

Jazzman’s has great food; however, it can get pricey when you go in there just to get a muffin, soda, or a tea. After a while, it adds up. Jazzman’s is no different than the other food locations on campus like The Grill or Pandinis or Sandellas—they all can be pricey, and it adds up. However, other than the food choices, there is one major difference between Jazzman’s and these other locations.

Jazzman’s does not use the $5.80 meal swipe if you are there during meal plan hours; it just uses straight dining dollars.

I understand Bartels is right downstairs and is open during breakfast, but what if I want a ham, egg and cheese sandwich or a latte instead of a regular coffee? I can’t get any of that from Bartels at any given time; however, I can buy them at Jazzman’s anytime.

Also, Jazzman’s is a huge hangout spot, not just for Greeks, but also for the entire student body. People want to hang out with their friends throughout their very stressful, college days. Having to go to Bartels to make sure you use your meal plan swipe instead of going to Jazzman’s and using dining dollars just adds more stress to an already stressful day, and subjects you to having to walk down the “judgment” stairs; which is always awful, especially if you fall.

If all the other food locations on campus use the meal plan swipe why can’t Jazzman’s? I spend all of my dining dollars at Jazzman’s, but my meal plan swipes are untouched. It would be nice to use my entire meal plan, not just my dining dollars, since I do pay for them. I consider this a waste, and if Jazzman’s accepted meal swipes, I would be able to save some of my dining dollars, which, like most of the student body’s, deplete quite quickly.