Dining Services to eliminate 'trick turning' next year

Tufts Dining Services, in an April 9 press release, announced several changes to the Premium Meal Plan for Fall 2014, including the elimination of the popular "trick turning." According to Director of Dining and Business Services Patti Klos, the changes will be focused on the Premium Meal Plan, commonly referred to as the "Unlimited Plan," which all freshmen are required to purchase. Right now, students on this plan are able to access Carmichael or Dewick-MacPhie Dining Halls during a specific meal period and can then go to Hodgdon Good-to-Go to "trick turn." Klos explained that this will no longer be possible.

"You may either visit Carmichael and Dewick as many times as you'd like in a given meal period ... or you [can] visit Hodgdon," she said. "You can only do one or the other during that period ... We want to make sure we're not referring to it as an 'Unlimited Plan,' because it is limited."

Klos explained that Dining Services had never planned for "trick turning" to become a permanent feature, but that its software could not prevent it.

"We are changing our software programs this summer, primarily because our system is on antiquated hardware," Klos said. "The intent has always been that there would be a limit to whether or not you could visit Hodgdon and Dewick or Carmichael in the same meal period. When we upgrade our software, we'll be able to make that work properly."

Isabelle Kahhal?, the co-chair of the Tufts Community Union Senate Services Committee explained that Klos consulted her and her co-chair, sophomore Janna Karatas, about the change several months ago.

"Patti [came] to me a couple of months ago and said, 'These are some of the changes we're thinking of for the meal plan — what do you think of them?'" Kahhal?, a freshman, said. "I did voice what I thought was the opinion of the whole school, that getting rid of 'trick turning' would not be a good idea, but she just said that it was part of the upgrade of the new technology they were putting in."

Kahhal? added that Dining Services was nevertheless mindful of student concerns and is making additional changes to meal plans in accordance with how students typically use their meal plans.

"The thing about Patti was I think she really wants the best for us and the whole community, so she was saying we're making other changes to the meal plan," Kahhal? said. "For example, now instead of having 10 guest meals, there are less and you get $80 JumboCash, which is a lot more useful."

According to Klos, this additional JumboCash will only impact students on the Premium Plan. She said, however, she hopes it will provide students with additional flexibility in choosing where to eat.

"Our hope is that students will find opportunities to use that JumboCash in other on-campus locations," she said. "We know they're in the library — this will give them the chance to buy a coffee or snack while they're in there. If you're an engineer, and you're over in Brown and Brew, and you want to get a yogurt or something, you'd have access to that unused guest meal through your JumboCash."

Klos added that the setup of the Kosher Deli will not be impacted by these changes. She said that students will still be able to first purchase food there, and then take it into Dewick or Carmichael to eat.

While Kahhal? said students were initially upset about the loss of "trick turning," she believes class turnover will eventually make it something few people remember.

"I wish there was something we can do [to preserve ‘trick turning’] , but there [are] things Senate can do and things they can't do, and that might be one of the things we can't do," she said.

Brian Williamson, a junior member of the men's track and field team who is on the Premium Meal Plan, said that the inability to "trick turn" could, in the long run, be a healthy decision for Dining Services.

"I actually think it will help me control how much I eat, and increase my awareness of how much and when I eat," Williamson told the Daily in an email. "I think having a constant stream of food, especially later into the night, can help lead to poorer nutrition habits in the long run."

Kahhal? said Dining Services has been cooperative in ensuring student needs were met, particularly with the addition of late-night dining earlier this semester.

"We did talk about potentially finding ways to extend the late-night dining ... maybe have it offered every day of the week," she said. "I'm still going to be working with [Klos] in the future to potentially expand it to Dewick for Friday and Saturday nights because it can accommodate a greater number of people, and, hopefully, wouldn't be as hectic."