The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of campus life, perhaps most notably food — how to get it, where to eat it and so on.
In August, Dining Services opened up two kiosks in order to have more places for students to get food, making for a safer environment during the pandemic.
After two months of getting used to this change, students were recently subjected to another: the merger of the Stuce and Bistro kiosks. Starting on Monday, Oct. 19, the Bistro kiosk ceased being open for lunch, and everything formerly found at that kiosk is now available in the Stuce, along with its usual offerings. A change was also made concerning time; the lunch kiosk is now open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., even though the Stuce kiosk was formerly open from 11a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the Bistro kiosk from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Some students are struggling with this change.
“With the time changes, I have a friend who can no longer swing by the lunch kiosk before they leave for an internship,” said junior Steven Thompson. “I can see the new times affecting other people in similar ways considering it was made this far into the semester … a point when we had our schedules figured out and routines established.”
However, according to Tina Miller, the food service director, this time change is to accommodate students who are in classes until 1:50 p.m.
“We didn’t want to take away the later time frame that the Bistro kiosk had,” Miller said. “If someone needs an early lunch, the dining hall is available, but the end time seemed important to keep 30 minutes later.”
Posters announcing the merger included the phrase, “you spoke + we listened.”
Miller said that student feedback and food service committee meetings fueled the decision to merge the kiosks into one “as a way of satisfying student needs and wants for additional options without adding labor.”
Sophomore Darby Phillips benefits from these additions to the kiosk.
“As a vegetarian I’m glad they combined the kiosks because now we can get more sides,” she said.
One common critique of the new kiosk deals with the wait time.
“Personally, I liked having the option to either go to the Bistro kiosk or the Stuce kiosk for lunch,” said Thompson. “There were not as many people in one line. Spreading the student body out by having multiple options seemed to make it more convenient in that way.”
Phillips agreed.
“The line has been significantly longer, which makes it difficult for people with a busy schedule,” she said.
But Miller said the merger “is going great on [their] end” and asks for patience from the students.
“Because of the restrictions and many students coming to lunch at the same time, there will be a wait,” Miller said. “However, we are working very hard to minimize the wait and appreciate your patience. Our staff is working very hard to get your meal ‘on the table’ each day.”
“It’s always challenging when we have to take food outside the building,” said Miller. “But overall, the extra effort has definitely been worth it, especially when we hear the wonderful feedback from students!”
