Perhaps West 82 needs to be put out of its misery.

The food court is only one component of the failing Baker Dining Services, but it is its most colossal money drain. In addition to the $1 million frivolously given away in the form of Dining Dollars, Baker Dining Services is projecting a new $1 million deficit.

The worst thing about West 82 — besides the name— is that the food court has the potential to be decent, if only it were managed better.

University officials say they plan to take action, but they don’t yet know what those actions will be. Whatever they decide to do, market research needs to be done beforehand to prevent more money from being tossed into the compost. They have many options, several of which have been raised here before but warrant a revisit in light of administrators’ newly opened eyes.

The first option is to shut down West 82’s current venues and replace them with outside vendors. With the number of students passing through Baker every day, the food court has the best location around, and the university should have no trouble finding vendors to fill the spots. Even if OU doesn’t want to dissolve all of its own food court establishments, it should cut the most wasteful. Not all of the venues in the food court are of comparable quality, and they don’t receive an equal distribution of customers.

Another option would be to connect the food court to students’ Super meal plans, much like Nelson, Shively and Boyd markets or the Oasis. Prices would remain the same, and students would still have to buy food in $6 multiples. Not only would it increase foot traffic to West 82 — especially during what are currently low-traffic times — but it might actually encourage some students who have preferred the regular meal plan to buy a Super, resulting in a cash influx.

If the university chooses not to pursue these options, West 82 should be shut down. The food court cannot continue to operate at a loss. There are better uses for that space, uses that might not make money but at least wouldn’t lose $2 million in fewer than two years. Of course, it would be infinitely preferable to reincarnate it as a profitable endeavor. It’s time to face the facts: West 82, in its current state, is a danger to the well-being of this university. If it can’t be rehabilitated, it needs to be euthanized. And that is the sad truth.