The details of the new dining plan are in the process of becoming finalized.

Residential Services sponsored a meeting Monday outlining the new meal plan and providing visual aids along with taste samplings for students.

Three meal plans will be presented to students once the dining hall in the new Brown-Lupton Student Union is built, which include silver, gold and platinum deals that will be known as either a “frog pass” or “frog passport” ranging from $1,799 to $2,099, said Craig Allen, director of Residential Services.

Each plan includes total access inside the new dining hall called “Market Square,” Allen said. Once inside, students will be considered “swiped in” and may eat as much as they want, rather than subtracting money off dining cards for each separate meal item, Allen said.

Tom Brown-Pete Wright residents, however, will have an option of two separate, smaller meal plans besides the three that are offered to the rest of the residents, Allen said.

Each plan will offer “frog bucks” that may be used off campus at local restaurants or other dining locations than the Market, including Sub Connection and a new convenience store, Allen said.

This week, a list of restaurants where “frog bucks” may be used will be presented and up to 30 places may accept the new idea, Allen said.

“We’ll start locally and with students’ input decide how far we can grow,” Allen said.

Students will have to get used to the idea of dining in instead of taking food out, which may upset some students, Allen said.

“I was really hesitant at first about this new plan but I guess I’ll be more accepting and be open to newer things,” said Caitlin Lippert, a sophomore political science and international relations major.

Change is being thrown at students and Residential Services is aware of this, Allen said.

The new dining areas will soon be the heart of campus, Allen said. Socializing, shopping and art festivals will take place at the new building and it may be considered “the Sundance Square” of TCU, Allen said.

Anything associated with the old student center, including names, will be gone, said Legia Abato, marketing manager for Sodexho at TCU.

The current dining hall holds 300 seats and students can take food to go. The new dining hall will hold 600 seats inside and an outside patio will seat 150 under a terrace.

Also, a new restaurant called “1873,” which will provide flat screen TVs, pool tables and seating inside and outside, said Rick Flores, general manager of Sodexho at TCU.

Next to the Market Square dining hall, a convenience store will be added, which will provide either a Starbucks or Seattle’s Best coffee shop, Flores said.

“The same food options will be there but just in a different way,” Flores said.

Residential Services will sponsor a meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Student Center room 207 to reiterate the new meal plan.

For Your Info

Passport Silver
all access plus $100 frog bucks
$1,799 dollars

Passport Gold
all access plus $300 frog bucks
$1,979 dollars

Passport Platinum
all access plus $450 frog bucks
$2,099 dollars