As the students, faculty and staff of Washington University settle back into their fall routines, familiar questions seep back into everyday life. How can I get from McDonnell to Seigle in under seven minutes? Is it really necessary to schedule a chemistry lecture at 8 a.m.? What am I supposed to do with my philosophy degree?

Although academic mysteries such as these rightfully occupy the forefront of students’ minds, a no less perplexing question lingers on the periphery: What happened to the square green plates that were used at the Danforth University Centery (DUC) last year?

When the DUC opened in the summer of 2008, all food was served on square ceramic plates with a bright green finish. They remained in service through the 2008-09 academic year but disappeared from lunch lines this fall. This year, all eat-in meals at the DUC are served on multi-colored circular plates or bowls. The new tableware is noticeably lighter than the older one.

(Paul Goedeke | Student Life)

“I liked the square plates better than the circular ones,” junior Toby Emanuel said. “The heavier plates felt more professional.”
Freshman Ashley Fox agreed. “I was here over the summer, and I loved the ceramic plates,” she said. “They gave you that college vibe, and the weight reminded you that you needed to give them back.”

The mass disappearance of green plates has slipped under the radar of many University students, even those who eat at the DUC several times a week. Sophomore Élan Stahl, who frequents the DUC between afternoon classes, said she missed the change because she usually takes her food to go.

“The bowls look elegant,” Stahl said, “but what was wrong with the old plates?”

The answer to that question, along with the current location of the old plates, remains a mystery to many Wash. U. students.

Stahl commented that she thinks “they’re probably sitting in a box around campus and should be donated someplace.” Fox, on the other hand, guessed that “the school crushed them up and put them in a wall somewhere,” à la Jimmy Hoffa.

“The way we waste things, we probably just threw them in the garbage,” Emanuel said. “Where could they have gone? That’s a good question.”

To get to the bottom of this mystery, Student Life contacted DUC Executive Chef Justin Keimon and Bon Appétit Resident District Manager Nadeem Siddiqui. According to Keimon, “The biggest complaint [about the old plates] was weight. The new ones are far lighter.” He noted that the change took place during the first week of the school year, and that the smaller size of the new plates better complements standard meal portions.

Siddiqui added that the plates “were breaking and chipping at an alarming rate, and they are quite expensive to replace. We needed to build inventory to open for fall, and we decided to make the switch to more durable and cost-efficient plates.” The new plates cost around $10,000, which is less than the replacement cost of the green plates.

So where are the old plates now? Keimon and Siddiqui indicated that they are being used for catering and are currently in reserve at Ibby’s. But there have also reportedly been sightings of the plates in the vegetarian line.

For the foreseeable future, the green plates will no longer be a part of the DUC dining experience. But rest assured—the plates are out there.