By Grant Terwilliger
With fewer dining options on campus this semester, College Auxiliary Services expanded hours at some dining locations to make up for the Sundowner’s renovations, but some students think that it’s not enough.
Kent Cafe, Clinton Dining Hall and Halal Shack were given extended hours to accommodate a larger number of students as a result of the Sundowner being closed for renovation during the fall semester but students still suffer long lines.
In an email sent out to students and staff, College Auxiliary Services recognized student feelings about the available dining options this semester.
“We want to acknowledge that our dining services have not been meeting expectations. We hear you and we agree. We apologize that we’ve let you down,” CAS Executive Director Catherine Keleher wrote. “We are committed to making significant improvements and rebuilding your trust in us.”
KENT
One of the biggest challenges for the limited dining options on campus is the number of people waiting in line to get food, overwhelming kitchens. Isabelle Cunningham, a first-year majoring in psychology, said hiring more staff could help.
“Sometimes people just want to go and get something quickly, but it actually ends up taking a long time,” Cunningham said.
College Auxiliary Services has seen a lot of student interest in employment so far, especially at newer locations, but they are still experiencing staff shortages.
Although Keleher noted that Kent is a student favorite, one can have too much of a good thing and grow tired of eating the same thing over and over again. Fredi Schneider, a sophomore majoring in childhood and special education, said Kent is her least favorite place to eat.
“I know that’s such an unpopular opinion, but I don’t know, I just ate it so much last year,” Schneider said. “I just can’t bring myself to eat it.”
CLINTON
Clinton is the largest dining hall, now open until midnight every day. It has four to five stations and the salad bar open every day depending on the day of the week and the amount of traffic.
“Once the Cardinal Nest is finished and open for the spring semester, Late Night will return to the (Angell College Center). In the meantime, Clinton will be the spot for late night dining,” Keleher wrote in an email response.
Clinton is a hit or miss with students. Some feel that the food is lackluster and that there are not many options available, in addition to being out of the way.
“I avoided Clinton for the first week and a half of school because I was scared to eat there,” Schneider said. “I think it’s awful now I have to trek to Clinton to eat, and I don’t really like the Clinton food.”
Some with dietary restrictions, such as being vegetarian or vegan, feel that there is a lot of selection at Clinton compared to the other dining locations on campus.
“I think that, being vegetarian, there’s a lot more selection here,” said Kasey Eaton, a first-year majoring in biochemistry. “Like, you go to Kent, you can really just get a sub and a fruit, but here you have a lot more options.”
OTHER OPTIONS
Another popular option for on-campus dining is the Halal Shack in the ACC.
“I like Halal the most. I just feel like the food, I’m always in the mood for it, and there’s good options,” Cunningham said.
More options are coming to the Halal Shack this semester, including Jamal’s Chicken and Baba’s Pizza, which Keleher said would be available between 8 to 10 p.m. by mid-September.
The Cardinal Market and Starbucks allow for students to buy their own food and prepare their own meals at home.
“There, I can try to get different things,” Schneider said. “I could get ramen, mac and cheese, and I make food from there, so it just gives me more options.”
Tim Hortons and Einstein Bagels, which have meal swipe options, are popular options as a result of their close proximity to academic buildings.
“I probably use, at this point, like seven Meal Swipes a week, and a lot of times it’s just for convenience, if my classes are over that way,” said first-year undeclared student Lucy Voelkl.
College Auxiliary Services is beginning an initiative to rebuild trust with students by hosting appreciation events starting next week with specialty menus and giveaways.
