You/he is right. It wasnt like this a last year. At all. Food at King Hall, together, is not what they are experiencing in styrofoam clamshells. But guess what? State college XX here has cold yucky food in clamshells. And sometimes they run out. So these issues aren’t unique to USNA. Or any college.
I have two there. A plebe and an upperclass. My plebe spent 25 consecutive days in iso...alone. So I get it. My upperclass is locked in like a plebe. I get it!
The way I would manage this as a parent, is to make them understand what they are giving up in exchange for a few weeks of comfort (assuming your person is going to stay home). Bc if they go anywhere else, it will be a similar experience. At least it wont be a normal, fantastic experience.
I would talk to them about the upcoming summer trainings that should be occurring (my oldest flew helicopters and shot huge guns off a boat in a pretty cool country), that their peers won’t be doing. IOW It’s worth the sacrifice and wait.
I know that food, at least, should be improving. I heard the director of King Hall speak to this. He said he hopes to have dining indoor (and therefore better food) by February. Things will be improving.
It’s a shame, imo, to give up especially after already going through the hard part....with changes coming, on the horizon! 2nd semester, they have stuff to look forward to: signing up for summer trainings. Sea trials. Herndon. Declaring their major. Plebe restrictions begin to decrease. They will be choosing roommates. Selecting (better) rooms for next year. Applying for leadership responsibilities. Hopefully, liberty will open us. 2nd semester is better than 1st. My oldest, and his buddies, laugh when I mention the ‘dark ages’. It doesn’t affect them. It’s all the same. So this may not be a thing for yours, either. There are a few long weekends, and we are planning trips out there...hopefully getting them off the yard for a little R&R. It’s manageable.
Have to keep the big picture in mind. And this, too, shall pass.