Student Issue, 2013—Declining Balance Meal Plans for Students Living Off-Campus

Aramark, UT’s Dining Services contractor, met with an unanticipated hailstorm of student outrage following its presentation to the Student Government Association in November 2013 of a proposal to impose a mandatory $300 Declining Balance Meal Plan on students living off campus. Aramark devised the proposal as a means of funding new dining facilities in the residence hall planned for the site previously occupied by Bill Gibbs Hall and for Presidential Court Cafeteria upgrades. Jeff Maples, senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, indicated that the proposal had not been approved for implementation and that the administration would continue to consider options but that the option selected was likely to include a meal plan.

SGA webmaster Greg Billings started a website, powerut.com, to solicit comments and gathered several hundred comments opposing the proposal. Nora Lee Ables, a sophomore in political science and an executive board member of College Democrats, initiated the Coalition Against Mandatory Meal Plans, composed of fellow classmates and club representatives. The coalition’s Facebook page garnered more than fifteen hundred fans within a few days. Students used the slogan #DontForceFeedUs.

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  • Title Student Issue, 2013—Declining Balance Meal Plans for Students Living Off-Campus
  • Author
  • Keywords Student Issue, 2013—Declining Balance Meal Plans for Students Living Off-Campus
  • Website Name Volopedia
  • Publisher University of Tennessee Libraries
  • URL
  • Access Date July 22, 2025
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 17, 2018