Cafeteria on the go
Wyatt Duncan, Staff Writer
photo courtesy of Unsplash.com
Life on North Greenville University’s Campus is busy for everyone. Exams, clubs, jobs and teams keep students and teachers on their toes. While everyone has differing schedules, the one thing that everyone has in common is food. No matter the person, no matter the schedule, the entire NGU community takes time to eat.
There are multiple options open to students on campus throughout the week, the ’63-’64 Grill is available to students in the evenings along with Einstein Bros. Bagels in the morning and Papa John’s pizza all day. The one place to eat on campus that almost everyone frequents, though, is the Todd Dining Hall. The Dining Hall, or the ‘Caf’, has a variety of food options to accommodate everyone on campus.
The Cafeteria is open every day of the week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and then at different times on Saturday and Sunday. Due to the fluid nature of students’ schedules, the school’s catering service, Aramark, has graciously allowed for NGU students to order food in the Dining Hall even when the main three meals are not being served.
Recently, there has been conflict with the Cafeteria scheduling. There are athletic teams on campus whose practices overlap the serving hours of the cafeteria, leaving those athletes to either go in right at 8 p.m. to get food, or to not get food from the Caf at all. Matthew Dunlap, a senior Biology major and Aramark employee commented that “[The cafeteria] does not put out fresh food right at close, which is logical.” Dunlap explained that Aramark avoids putting out fresh food right before eight because they know that some of it will inevitably go to waste.
Dunlap suggests that perhaps there is a compromise to be made. “Maybe Aramark opens [the cafeteria] half an hour early just for the athletes to come in and grab a to-go box before practice to save until after.” Matthew also suggests that Aramark could have a small comfort-food station specifically for athletes headed to or from their various practices.
Jacob Motter, a junior sport management major who plays for the men’s lacrosse team says, “When we have late practices, we either don’t eat or go to the General Store.” Motter explains that sometimes he and his teammates do not feel the need for food after practice, having eaten before or something similar, or they use the resource that is Papa Johns.
As far as the Cafeteria is concerned, Aramark employees are surprised that there are students who go without dinner. Ashley Albert, an Aramark Caterer at NGU, comments that she has “… seen every sport [in the cafeteria], I don’t think there is a sport I haven’t seen every day.” Albert was quick to add, “if that’s true, [if athletes go without meals], let us know. Let us change.”
“The problem is a lack of communication between Aramark and the Athletics department.” Albert comments. She makes it clear that Aramark seeks to provide all students, with all schedules with what they need for sustenance on campus every day.
Lindsey Kirk, NGU’s own Aramark baker, adds that she knows of options for athletes to request meals during games, and wonders if a similar option is available to practices. Michael Hatten, Aramark’s Catering Manager at North Greenville answers that saying that “We prepare pack-out meals on request.” The event does not matter, if an athletic team requests meals, Aramark will provide them with meals packed and ready to go.
