Beginning next fall, all Marquette freshmen and sophomores will be required to purchase the “Anytime Dining Plan” for $3,610, with the traditionally less expensive block options of 125 or 175 meals per semester being taken off the table by administrators.

Thursday night, Dean of Residence Life Jim McMahon announced that the university will be moving to this option partly because 83 percent of the purchased meal plans this year were either Carte Blanche or Block 175. The “Anytime Dining Plan” will be a two-year trial run to see how it works.

“We were looking at the best way to get students — particularly those who are mandated (to buy a meal plan) — the best value,” McMahon said.

According to Dean of Residence Life Jim McMahon, the unlimited plan was expected to balloon from $3,830 this school year to $4,100 in 2011-2012. Now that the block plans have been eliminated, the plan will cost $3,610.

The “Loyalty 50 Plan” still will be offered to students living off campus for $325.

The decision, which came without any forewarning to most of the Marquette Student Government, was made Wednesday night during an administrative meeting. McMahon apologized “for not getting the leaders (of MUSG and the Residence Hall Association) involved.”

While McMahon said the university is looking to give the best value to students, members of MUSG questioned whether taking away options for less expensive plans was the right move.

“How are you going to help students who can’t afford to buy up?” said Andrew Hassey, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration.

Todd Vicker, executive director of the Alumni Memorial Union and auxiliary services, said he did not anticipate this being a problem for students.

He said students on the Block 125 plan would have had to supplement their diet with other meals in the first place. He added this plan will allow students to eat anytime they want for only a little more than $1 per day more than the Block 125 plan would cost next year.

When asked by one MUSG member if the university would profit from the plan, McMahon also said the plan will be “revenue neutral” for the university.

The plan will include 10 guest passes and 50 Dining Dollars, essentially making it the same as the Carte Blanche option.

Toby Baker, a sophomore in the College of Communication, expressed his discontent that MUSG was not consulted before the plan was devised or passed, and asked how MUSG would be incorporated into future decision making.

Vicker said a committee of students will be formed to provide feedback on how the “Anytime Dining Plan” works.

“I think it is an ideal situation for students,” Vicker said. “You are getting an ‘all-you-can-get’ at a middle level price, which is what we aimed for.”

On another note, following the presentation, MUSG passed legislation recommending that faculty and staff adhere to policies outlined in a Feb. 1 Provost Memo which, among other things, states, “No major examinations are to be given during the last week of classes.”

Curtis Taylor, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration and an author of the legislation, said he and other people he had talked to had problems with professors giving an exam during the final weeks of class and also giving a final exam.