By Susannah Waite, Associate Editor
More students purchasing meal plans means more business for OCU Dining and longer lines for students.
Jevon Oliver, biomedical sciences junior, eats in the cafeteria Sept. 24. More students have been coming to the cafeteria for lunch and dinner this school year, officials said. Photo: Brooke Yancey/The Campus
The cafeteria and Alvin’s Cafe have been busier this year, said Kelli Keegan, director of operations.
“There are definitely more students on campus this year,” she said.
About 1,035 students live on campus this semester, which is about 30 students more than last year, said John Riggs, dean of students. Purchasing a Sodexo meal plan is a requirement for living on campus, according the the Student Code of Conduct.
The cafeteria has two open registers during lunch and dinner.
“The lines can get long,” Keegan said. “We just can’t slide student’s cards fast enough.
“We just can’t get people through the door fast enough.”
The cafeteria seats 300 people at any given time.
“We get about 250 people for breakfast, but anywhere from 700 to 800 at lunch everyday,” she said.
Students visit the “to-go” line about 1,000 to 1,500 times per week, which has helped traffic some, Keegan said.
“We have a lot of new options and new things, so people want to come in,” she said.
Alvin’s Cafe has been busier this semester as well.
“I think the new menu has brought more people in,” Keegan said.
Sodexo added an Italian portion to the menu as well as Starbucks coffee.
“We have an entire diet line as well, with gluten free snacks and organics,” she said. “Sometimes these sell faster then the regular food.”
The register system changed this year as well, Keegan said.
“Every time hot food is ordered, the cashier must take the order directly to the cook,” she said. “This is not my favorite system.
“It takes longer per customer.”
Two cashiers are on-duty during the busiest times of the day, Keegan said.
Keegan said she is frustrated that students can’t get into the cafeteria quick enough and that new register system at Alvin’s Cafe takes a little longer.
“I wish there was a larger or another place to add another cafeteria,” she said.
This would reduce some of the traffic, Keegan said.
“I think the campus and student body would enjoy it,” she said. “It would be another reason to come to OCU.”
Shannon Klein, dance performance senior, said she does not like the busy atmosphere.
“It’s never been this crowded in the caf,” she said. “They need a better system.
“We all have classes to get to and they need a way to expedite the system.”
Contributing: Amanda Alfanos, Editor-in-Chief
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