Tulane University’s limited meal plans fail to encourage students to explore New Orleans. Students are forced to choose between the kosher meal plan and variations of the unlimited plan with either 250 or 500 Wavebuck$, a currency that can only be used at on-campus vendors. Students are essentially forced to dine in the cafeteria or at the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life if they want to avoid spending more money than the expensive $4,000 semesterly base meal plan. 

Tulane has attempted to encourage off-campus dining through the implementation of NOLAbuck$ and Splash Cash. However, these currencies are only accepted at a limited list of locations. The base meal plans don’t even inherently include NOLAbuck$ anymore; they are just an option for students to add at the price of $1 per NOLAbuck. Even with tax-free NOLAbuck$, it does not make sense for students to spend their own money on currency that can be used at limited dining spots when spending their own money gives them far more flexibility.

Tulane’s Uptown campus is surrounded by great restaurants within walking distance. Maple Street is a hub of great, affordable local eateries. Places like Shug’s Bagels, Fresco Cafe & Pizzeria and Pasta on the Fly have become Tulane favorites. Many students also frequent Freret Street for places like Dat Dog, Origami and Vals. 

For many undergraduates, especially first-years without cars, these spots are some of the few accessible introductions to New Orleans’ broader food culture. Tulane students are large supporters of many local uptown eateries. Some of these businesses even collaborate with on-campus organizations for catering or philanthropy events. 

Nonetheless, Tulane’s meal plans encourage almost exclusively on-campus dining. For a university situated in a city where food is a cultural touchstone, limiting students’ opportunities to engage with local cuisine undermines Tulane’s commitment to community integration. 

As a school that prides itself on encouraging students to “go beyond the bubble,” Tulane should take its own words to heart and add more off-campus dining options to the meal plan. The restaurants surrounding the Uptown campus have been supporting and serving students for decades; it is only right that Tulane returns the favor and adjusts its meal plan to help support local eateries. Expanding meal plan partnerships would not only strengthen Tulane’s connection to New Orleans but also make the dining experience more equitable and culturally enriching for students.