Late night snack in 2012: Projected arrival of Wendy’s in the Union contested, but is the cheapest, most convenient option.

Finally, an affordable, late-night dining option that doesn’t require 45 minutes to an hour for delivery and a tip.

The Union Board of Directors voted Tuesday in favor of bringing Wendy’s to the bottom of the Union. The board made the right decision.

Wendy’s is a much-needed addition to on- and near-campus dining, which is restricted primarily to the dining halls, Lenoir Mainstreet or Franklin Street.

Gone are the days of weighing a $9 [B]Ski’s meal against a debit account flirting with overdraft fees. Wendy’s is a cheap, practical option for cash-strapped students who simply need something to eat.

It is no secret that Wendy’s is a fast-food joint, and eating there is not the healthiest of options. Undoubtedly, there are some who see the presence of Wendy’s as nothing more than the encroachment of another unhealthy, quick-fix establishment into our bubble.

Yes, it would be great to have a late-night on-campus restaurant that serves delicious, highly nutritious meals — for $0.99.

But the fact is such a utopian establishment does not exist. Most college students are cash-strapped. The dining halls are only open until 8:30 p.m. Beyond that, the options are essentially limited to Alpine Bagel Café and Franklin Street.

The only difference is, for less than the price of a bagel with cream cheese at Alpine, a hungry customer can get 10 chicken nuggets at Wendy’s.

The needs of students should be paramount in any decision like this. It is painfully obvious that UNC is lacking in the department of after-hours food. Wendy’s solves this problem in the best way possible: economically.

Some students are too health-conscious to eat at fast food restaurants, to be sure.

But most are not. Students care about being fed and having some money left over to spend on things that are not related to survival, and this gets the job done.