As most of you already don’t know, all residential students can look forward to spending at least $1,000 next year for on-campus food.

That’s right, Loyola recently negotiated a residential meal plan requirement, whereby juniors and seniors living on campus must purchase at least $500 worth of Wolf Bucks per semester and sophomore residents must have a $750 minimum.

Maybe Dining Services should throw an Orleans Room birthday party for itself, because we’re certainly giving it a nice big present. Upperclassmen aren’t the only ones who get to eat more honey mustard chicken wraps; incoming freshmen will get an even fuller Loyola dining experience. Just so the “freshman 15” is pre-financed, the new requirement serves up all-you-can-eat breakfasts during the week.

My main purpose here, though, is not to criticize the plan, but to shine a light on the beacon of hope it offers.

Since they’ll soon have an even stronger monopoly on the student food market, Dining Services has agreed to extend hours, especially at Sandella’s. Students have asked for a late-night food option, and soon we can all buy cheddar chicken broccoli bowls until 3 a.m. Thursday through Sunday.

However tasty that sounds, cheddar chicken broccoli bowls are not good enough. If we’re paying for late-night food, we need more options than the microwave-happy Sandella’s menu.

With the added guaranteed income, there is no excuse not to install cooking equipment at our primary alternative dining location. If we’re trying to develop a place for students to hang out on campus weekend nights, the menu needs to be more tempting.

I’ve been eating the same few things at Sandella’s for the past three years, and I’m not about to start eating them at 2 a.m. Saturday.

I would be more satisfied as a customer if this late-night venue started offering fresh grilled items, like BLTs or omelets or even fajitas (well, fajitas might be setting the bar too high). And why open just Sandella’s? Seattle’s Best also shares the “Underground Cafe,” so late-night coffee should be easy enough to serve.

SGA is pursuing purchasing entertainment and recreation items for the Underground and Wolf Den, which should make those areas much more attractive. All we would need is better food, and students would start going regularly at night.

I understand your menu can’t be limitless, Dining Services, but Sodexho also serves our neighbors at Tulane.

Loyola and Tulane might be rivals in basketball, but I see no reason why we can’t be friends in food.

Wolfbucks should be compatible with Wavebucks so we can enjoy Taco Bell and Einstein’s Bagels, and they can enjoy … Smoothie King. With Loyola’s and Tulane’s meal cards on the same system, it would also be easier to arrange off-campus restaurants to accept our involuntary food funds.

Students will see their bills increase beginning next fall. We also want to see a better value in return, as soon as, if not before, we start taking out more loans to pay your bills.

So happy birthday, Dining Services. Treat yourself to some sheet cake and Blue Bell Ice Cream. After all, being the only business on campus that takes more of our money than the bookstore is worth celebrating.

André Breaux is a mass communication junior from Lafayette, La.