Is it so much to ask to just be able to eat the food we want, when we want it? This year’s meal plan seems to fly in the face of one’s need for sustenance.

Students are presented with a three-tiered “weekly declining allocation” in which they choose a base dollar amount, then they are able to supplement their option with additional Huskie Bucks.

The only positive side to the meal plan that the Star could think of, is that the campus convenience stores aren’t flooded with students with chunks of change burning holes in their pockets.

We did determine a number of problems, though.

First, not every student has a bundle of cash to shove into their Huskie Bucks account.

The idea appeals to parents who are able to keep a tight rein on cash preventing their little darlings from squandering it on junk food and beer.

Second, it appears that the crafters of this plan make the assumption that students are willing to eat in the residence dining halls for every meal because this plan forces student to utilize the dining halls.

But the dining halls never have been as flexible or as appealing as the campus convenience stores — the Trident, the Annex and the Corner Store.

College students have sporadic eating habits. Midnight burrito cravings and morning Mt. Dew instead of coffee are almost a right of passage. Why else would 24-hour pizza places stay in business?

Residence dining halls are open during specific hours and they close early in a college student’s daily schedule.

Third, Melodie Thomas, coordinator of contracts and assignments for Student Housing and Dining Services, said the new plan came about after complaints by local merchants.

Why, all of a sudden, do local merchants have such an impact on university policies that affect the student body?

Isn’t this the line of thinking that produced a Pepsi machine on every floor of nearly every academic building?

University administrators can’t please everyone all the time, but they have to remember who they do need to please: the students.

Policies should be crafted with the students and their interests in mind.