Tasty food that won’t break the bank

Access to on-campus food is integral to the student experience for its convenience, time efficiency, and role in fostering social interaction. Providing diverse choices, campus dining services accommodate various dietary preferences, promoting healthy habits and ensuring affordability. These spaces serve as hubs for students to gather, share meals, and build connections, enhancing the overall campus culture. Beyond practicality, on-campus food services contribute to the vibrancy of the university environment, supporting students in their academic pursuits while fostering a sense of community and well-being.

Food on campus has been a real headache for students for many years. Little changes have been made to ensure that diverse and tasty foods are affordable to students.

This can be attributed mainly to Hospitality Service's monopoly on food and catering services on campus. However, MSU has the capacity to change this. MSU has regained control of Twelveighty this year and now independently owns and operates the Twelveighty (bar & restaurant), the Grind (coffee and bakery) and the Union Market (snacks and drinks) in the student centre (MUSC).

This year, Twelveighty only offers service from 11:30 am to 5 pm and a limited menu with few options for people with dietary restrictions, but this was not the case before. Twelveighty used to host weekly club nights with DJs and bands. The biggest achievement of all is that in 2012, we got The Weeknd to perform live in Twelveighty. Link to the Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3WwA6zaarg&t=11s

As MSU's food service improves, it will pressure the university management to improve its food to stay competitive.

Why would MSU food be better than other campus food?

MSU is a not-for-profit organization advocating for McMaster students. All profits from the restaurants will go directly back to serve the students. Differentiating from other campus food sources, the priority isn’t to make a profit but to serve good food. Therefore, the price will be the lowest on campus. The Twelveighty currently serves a pint of beer for only $4 — the lowest in Hamilton, and one pound of wings for only $15. Low price doesn’t mean poor quality. Come during meal time, and you might see the MSU Board of Directors eating there.

The plan to improve MSU Food Services

It can be broken down into three parts.