Hillel Plans to Enforce Student Dining Limits

Budgetary constraints have forced Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel to begin strictly limiting the number of students eating in its dining hall, according to Hillel officials.

Only 10 students not on the "kosher" eating list will be admitted at each meal. The organization and the University have always had a 10-person limit for diners not on the eating list, but Hillel has recently begun enforcing the rule, said Rabbi Sally R. Finestone yesterday.

Finestone, acting director of Hillel, said that the change was necessary because the organization could not afford to serve everyone who was coming.

She said that the University reimburses Hillel for the cost of serving kosher meals, and the organization will probably exceed the maximum allowable repayment for this year.

Hillel officials are currently meeting with Dining Services Director Michael W. Berry to develop a system of reimbursements, according to Finestone.

University officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Since the new policy began last Thursday, there has been a definite decline in the number of students who drop in, said Wayne S. Smith '93, the dining hall checker at Hillel.

Before last week, Smith said, "We got at least20 [unlisted students] on a normal night". Headded that occasionally up to 50 people would showup for the Monday night "deli" meal.

But since the 10-person limit took effect, hesaid, he has not turned away many undergraduates."I guess most people know about it," he said.

Students interviewed in the dining hallyesterday said that the new limitations coulddefinitely affect the social atmosphere at Hillel.

Leiba Nesis '92 said she had planned last weekto meet a friend at Hillel but couldn't becauseher friend was not on the eating list. "She [thefriend] said she wasn't allowed," said Nesis. "Iwas surprised."

"The Hillel depends on attracting peoplethrough food," Noah R. Feldman '92said. "They're less likely to come if they have tocome alone."

But Hillel officials said that students willalways be welcomed to dine at Hillel. Shai A. Held'94, coordinating council chair, said, "People arestill warmly invited to eat at Hillel. They justhave to come early.

Before last week, Smith said, "We got at least20 [unlisted students] on a normal night". Headded that occasionally up to 50 people would showup for the Monday night "deli" meal.

But since the 10-person limit took effect, hesaid, he has not turned away many undergraduates."I guess most people know about it," he said.

Students interviewed in the dining hallyesterday said that the new limitations coulddefinitely affect the social atmosphere at Hillel.

Leiba Nesis '92 said she had planned last weekto meet a friend at Hillel but couldn't becauseher friend was not on the eating list. "She [thefriend] said she wasn't allowed," said Nesis. "Iwas surprised."

"The Hillel depends on attracting peoplethrough food," Noah R. Feldman '92said. "They're less likely to come if they have tocome alone."

But Hillel officials said that students willalways be welcomed to dine at Hillel. Shai A. Held'94, coordinating council chair, said, "People arestill warmly invited to eat at Hillel. They justhave to come early.