Larry Levitas

Larry Levitas, Director Dining Services, Columbia University Larry Levitas came to Columbia in 2003 following 10 years at Au Bon Pain. He has spent a brief time at Cafe La Minita, a farm coop in Costa Rica to understand the local economy. He has worked with student groups to help initiate programs in Community Supported Agriculture, Food Sustainability, local produce purchasing, a student operated organic food coop and converted to biodegradable PLA containers to replace plastic, resin based products.

Larry Levitas, Columbia University, Dining Services Director

Judges were Patti Klos (chair), Tufts University; Kirsten Carolin, University of North Dakota; Meredith Statler, The Lovett School; Larry Levitas, Columbia University; Lisa Charbonneau, University of Connecticut; Lisa Zolondek, Meritcare Medical Center; and Bernadette Chung-Templeton, Bryn Mawr College.

Low sales may be attributed to the lack of publicity or "too high a price point," speculated Larry Levitas, director of Dining Services.Also, the machine was left unlocked by an employee from Canteen after it was first installed, leading to the theft of four of the pricey music players, Levitas said.

The overriding prospects of convenience, however, have prompted administrators to further expand the scope of this innovation.They plan to include a credit-card-activated DVD rental machine as well as feature eclectic merchandise ranging from MetroCards to memory sticks.Health Services and Dining Services at Columbia might also coordinate to stock dorm vending machines with health products, such as condoms.

"We're really trying to sell what students want," Levitas said.