News

Students react to dining changes

By Kathleen Dane

Posted on Sept. 22, 2008, at 12:00 a.m.

Black Bear Dining is welcoming student comments on this year’s dining changes, officials said on Friday.

These changes include the decision to close both York and Wells Commons on the weekends, leaving Hilltop Commons and the Memorial Union Marketplace the only campus locations for weekend dining.

Director of Dining Operations Kathy Kittridge and Director of Culinary Services Glenn Taylor said their decision to change weekend dining hours of operation was based on past customer counts.

“We determined there is only enough business to support two buildings operating during this period. Hilltop was chosen because of the large student population living in that area and the Union Marketplace is central to the remaining resident students,” the statement said.

Kittridge and Taylor also explained that Wells’ opening this year was one of the final steps in a plan that has been taking shape since 2004, when the university hired a contractor to come in and make the dining system more efficient.

Many of the changes students have noticed this year were part of a transitional period, Kittridge said. For example, Southside Market was closed this year to make room for the university’s graduate program in Stodder Hall because it wasn’t a part of dining’s long-range plan.

Also this year, the Bear’s Den pub is no longer offering meal exchanges. Now that Wells has opened, Kittridge said, there are enough locations offering meal exchanges that Dining plans to operate the Bear’s Den more like a pub.

At the same time, the Union Marketplace is offering weekend brunch exchanges, and weekday meal exchanges – luxuries not afforded last year. Kittridge said they had worried about overcrowding at the Union last year when buildings were closed, but now “a lot has shifted” to the Union Marketplace.

However, many students are not in favor of the changes and have been making their voices heard. Sophomore Tony Babb, who lives in Kennebec Hall, created a Facebook group Wednesday, Sept. 17 called “UMaine Students Against The New Dining System.” By the weekend, more than 160 users had joined.

“Every time I realize that I’m going to spend the weekend eating at the Union, I punch whatever’s closest to me,” junior Benjamin Hornsby said. “I just find the Union depressing because I’ve already spent so much time eating there.”

Other students cited the Union’s lack of variety as a problem. “I’m not [going] to Hilltop to get a balanced meal,” York resident Meghan Genovese said. “The Union doesn’t offer a lot of vegetables or a salad bar without having to pay.”

Kathrine Anderson, a York resident, agreed. “I don’t eat very well when I go to the Union. No good veggies.”

Junior Derek McKinley said he used to stop by Southside Market when he didn’t want to go to the commons. Now, he stocks up at the markets so he only has to make the trip every once in a while.

York resident Derrick Perry said he and his roommate have been going to the farmer’s market to buy snacks like carrots and green beans for their room, while fellow York resident Geoffrey Taylor has been ordering takeout on the weekends with a group of friends.

“We have a rotation going so that no one ends up paying all the time,” Taylor said, “but it’s still at least $20 a week that I’m having to buy food from off campus and not getting to eat the food I pay for with my tuition.”

Dining officials said they are quickly addressing the comments they receive, but know more is being said that they don’t hear.

“We’re not ignoring it; we’re not acting right away, though,” Kittridge said. “We’re taking it all into consideration very closely, taking into account all the numbers. I know students pay a lot of money. We’re seeing how things go.”

Kittridge added that more services will be offered as the semester picks up. “In the next couple weeks, some of the wrinkles will be worked out,” Kittridge said.

More than 60 percent of dining staff are students, and Dining Services is still looking for more employees.

She also said dining may open up different locations for big events. Right now, she and Glenn Taylor are considering opening Wells for homecoming weekend, and others may be opened when the university hosts state chess and Destination Imagination tournaments.

In the meantime, they urge students to let them know their concerns through the dining Web site and to also let them know about any dietary issues or food allergies so they may be accommodated.

Dining plans to hold a committee meeting each month as well, where students can come to offer suggestions. “Two years ago, it was a fabulous committee,” Glenn Taylor said. “By the time of the next meeting, a lot of it was taken care of. There were a lot of things that were easy to change.”

For example, the Bear Bites Too! kiosk in the Donald P. Corbett Business Building was created from a student committee suggestion. The kiosk, which features Starbucks coffee, will be reopening Monday. The Union Marketplace has also introduced a similar dark roast as a result of fewer Starbuck’s hours.

York Commons’ Customer Service Supervisor Yasmin Boyorak said she understands how students feel, but that they need to express their concerns constructively.

Last week, she said, she took down 40 comment cards posted at York, and only one of them contained a positive comment. “We’re getting the negative from the students . I get very discouraged,” Boyorak said.

She said students need to understand that posting a comment such as, “the scrambled eggs were bad today,” does nothing to help Dining fix the issue. Chefs need to know if eggs were too runny or too dry and what they can do to make them better.

“Instead of complaining, give us a solution,” Boyorak stressed. “If you have an idea, send it to us. We’re approachable.”

Dining is planning to offer a mini-market at York, offering to-go items and groceries, as well as a “recipe from home” program and sushi bar.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.