Fourth Meal Possible in the Distant Future

The Boston Globe dropped a bomb with its front-page article Friday, "Harvard heeds the call of hungry students," which announced the College's decision to create a "fourth meal" at around midnight.

But anyone hoping to give up Tommy's runs and late-night stops at Store 24 shouldn't count on it.

Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) Director Ted A. Mayer said the reporter was "overzealous" in reporting the story, and a "fourth meal" isn't even in the planning stages, although they have toyed with the concept.

"We're very seriously looking into it, but we haven't committed to it," Mayer said. "Can we do everything? It's all part of a much larger picture."

The midnight snack concept first came up in last year's HUDS survey in which outside consultants talked to over 300 people about dining services at Harvard.

"We interviewed 80 faculty, 80 staff, 250 students," Mayer said. "[Provost] Harvey Fineberg on down."

The interviews brought up issues in several areas for HUDS to consider.

"The consultants kept the information confidential and we've used it to develop our strategic plans," Mayer said.

Discussions coming out of the survey included expansion of the Fly-By program and some sort of meal plan for seniors between the end of exams and Commencement.

And, HUDS recognized that a fourth meal might appeal to students who are staying up late into the night.

Although HUDS says it knows students back the idea, it maintains costs and other obstacles stand in the way.

"There are all of these wants, but we can't do it all," Mayer said. "The board plan is expensive enough as it is. The dialogue needs to begin."

The confusion with the Globe reporter began when HUDS told her they were thinking about the change.

"We told this reporter that we were considering it," Mayer said. "She has gotten it into her head that we are doing it."

Mayer said that before HUDS can make any changes, it needs to clarify what a fourth meal will entail. Most students seem to want snack foods, he said.

Currently, seven Houses regularly offer some sort of late-night option. Winthrop, Leverett, Lowell, Adams, Cabot, Currier and Pforzheimer leave out drinks or food items for insomniacs and studying students.

Cabot House Master James H. Ware said all of the Quad Houses made an effort this year to make sure there would be food Sunday through Thursday nights.

"The Houses are all moving to having something at night," Ware said. "The practice is spreading."

But these snacks come from the House Committee and House masters' budgets, not the board plan. Although this only amounts to a few hundred dollars a week, Ware said masters would like to see the fourth meal as part of regular HUDS options.

"Right now it's in an experimental mode and we're happy to do it," Ware added.

According to Mayer, many of the Masters have expressed interest in paring down breakfast in order to free up more resources for the midnight meal.

The Globe article said that the House Masters would decide on Wednesday what the fourth meal would look like.

According to Ware, the Masters' meeting is a regular scheduled monthly event, and because Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles will be attending this meeting, the fourth meal is not on the top of the agenda.

Still, Ware said the Masters might discuss the topic simply because of the article.

"I was not aware it was happening," he said. "I thought, gee, are we that far ahead?"

Alixandra E. McNitt, assistant director for marketing and communications for HUDS, said there is no way the fourth meal could start this year because the board rates have already been set.

"We don't have a fix on when it would happen," she said. "It all depends on what improvements are requested. What kind of value can we bring without compromising the program?"

Students said they were disappointed the fourth meal is not coming as soon as they had thought.

"I think it's a fantastic idea. I'm just sad I'm going to graduate before it happens," Ariana J. Silverman '99-'00 said.