DURHAM, N.H. — The University of New Hampshire now acknowledges that spending $17,000 on a custom-made chef's table with LED lights for the campus dining hall was a mistake.
Initially, university officials thought the light-up table would allow the dining staff to interact with students and demonstrate healthy cooking techniques.
But word soon got out about the $17,570 price tag on the 16-seat table, which was installed several weeks ago. The school newspaper wrote about it, and other media outlets picked up on it.
The table costs nearly as much as in-state students pay annually for tuition and fees.
On Friday, UNH spokesman Erika Mantz said that having a chef's table was a good idea, but much less money should have been spent.
The university plans to keep the table.