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Printer-Friendly ModeForum explains future dining area renovations
January 31, 2005 —
Directors from SVSU Dining Services held a "food forum" Tuesday, Jan. 25 to preview upcoming changes to campus dining areas.
The forum was held at the weekly University Residence Association meeting, and it also answered questions on how to better serve students.
The biggest change to campus will be two new eateries, which will be built in Zahnow, where the Writing Center used to be.
Setting up the new eatery in Zahnow was intended to accommodate the busy flow of students with classes in the Science East and West buildings. Moving Java City to Science East, where Einstein's Eatery is currently located, will be more beneficial to students who have most of their classes in the building.
The C-Store will expand with the removal of Java City, giving on-campus residents more food options.
There will also be renovations to Doan Café, which could begin as soon as spring break.
Outlines of the campus renovation stages were revealed, with the first stage, renovations of Doan and a new retail food court, set to start this semester.
The next stages are being planned for Winter/Spring 2006. Stage two will have Java City relocate to Einstein's Eatery. Stage three will have the old Java City location be replaced with an expanded food selection, like ice cream, pretzels and smoothies, for student residents living on campus.
In addition, food was served at the forum and prizes were given to students for guessing the correct percentage regarding student-eating preferences on campus.
Through interviews with key administrators, focus groups and surveys, Dining Services found that 51 percent of students surveyed leave campus for lunch.
They also found that 24 percent of students surveyed do not eat breakfast, 57 percent wanted a quick meal for breakfast, and 45 percent wanted new dining facilities.
Students, it was concluded, now prefer buffet style "real food" options.
To lure back students to the eateries offered and accommodate the requests for both on-campus and commuter students, Dining Services decided to change the current meal option to "all you care to eat" dining.
Real Food on Campus (RFOC) will have more food available on campus along with an expanded board plan, because SVSU is the only university in Michigan without a traditional board plan.
This expanded board plan will give students the option of seven different eating plans. The meal plans will be either based on the current declining balance, or by meals eaten per week, with an allotted amount of cash to spend at eateries outside Doan.
Incoming freshmen will only have two board plans to choose from.
There will also be a casual dining rate for brunch, dinner and late dinner. The flex account system is not expected to change.
The new board options for next year are available in the housing packets from the SVSU Housing and Residential Life office.