In efforts to ease student grumblings about the tipping policy at Cantina Roble and Varsity, the directors of Aramark food services have decided to create a new policy regarding the payment of wait staff.

Because servers’ hourly wages generally aren’t much more than $2, the 18 percent rule was instated to ensure servers receive a decent wage.

"When opening Varsity, my concern was that because it was on campus, people wouldn’t feel the need to tip," said Jeff Gazda, food service director.

Beginning Winter Term, the 18 percent mandatory gratuity will be removed from checks at Varsity. Guaranteed tips will be replaced with an equivalent hourly wage.

Servers at Cantina Roble have generally not automatically added the 18 percent gratuity. With this in mind, Aramark has decided to allow servers to continue with traditional wage and gratuity policies.

The mandatory tipping policy has been a hotly contested issue on campus. Some students said they feel 18 percent is too much to tip, especially if the service is poor.

"Some students can’t afford to pay 18 percent every time they go out to eat," said freshman Danielle Andre.

Varsity waitress Nikki Taylor disagreed.

"I was always brought up that if you don’t have enough money to tip, then you don’t have enough money to go out to eat," Taylor said. "Many students don’t realize that because food is so cheap, an 18 percent tip is usually about 89 cents."

Rita Gordish, marketing programs manager for campus dining, said that the change in policy was due mainly to student complaints.

"We have an open-door policy and we encourage any comments, complaints or suggestions from students," she said.

Gazda agreed.