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Christina Smith

During the school year, SIU dorm residents can eat in cafeterias, but during the summer, their only meal plan option is the Student Center.

When they buy a summer meal plan, students receive $400 on their University ID card, which can be used at MacDonald's, Subway, the Marketplace, Freshens, Noble Roman's Pizza, Taco Bell and Starbucks, all located in the Student Center.

The Student Center restaurants are open 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Marketplace is the only restaurant at the Student Center that is open on Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it is closed on Sundays.

"I think that the Student Center should be open at least an hour or two on Sundays, for lunch and dinner," said Rob Baker, a junior living in Abbott Hall.

But he said he is happy with the variety of restaurants in the Student Center.

Senior Matt Pica said he is not sure if $400 is enough money for the summer because he spends about $6 per meal. There is a spending limit of $9.50 per meal for both lunch and dinner

Junior Matt Highlander also said he doubts the meal plan amount will be enough money to last through the summer. He said he spends about $10 a day on food, if not more.

If the students do not use all of their money by the end of the summer, they lose the remaining money, said senior Ava Wilder, sociology major. Wilder is spending her second summer in the dorms and said didn't purchase a meal plan this summer, because she didn't use all of her meal plan last summer.

Senior Kelli Harper said she didn't purchase a meal plan this summer because it was too expensive, and she buys food from other places.

Reporter Christina Smith can be reached at christina_smith@dailyegyptian.com