STORY BY ELISE NIKOLIC
Quad Creek Café kept students on their toes this semester by changing the number of sides with each meal.
In previous semesters, students would be able to choose from two different sides with their meal. This fall, students can only pick one.
The decision was based on surveys from Student Senate for health reasons, according to General Manager Aaron Knutson.
“The sides are now bigger than they were last year. We’ve added healthier options with different kinds of chips and more whole fruit,” Knutson said.
A few students on campus have expressed mixed feelings about Quad serving one side compared to two sides like last semester.
“I’m generally disappointed that we don’t get two sides anymore,” said sophomore Margo Wohlfeil.
Wohlfeil believes the change is not equal to Hubbell Dining Hall.
“If you choose to eat in (Hubbell) you get basically unlimited sides and now in Quad you just get one,” Wohlfeil said. “I used to take one and save one for later as a snack.”
Sophomore Megan Rush agrees with Wohlfeil and doesn’t see the significance of changing the sides.
“I don’t see the benefit of the change. Room and board tuition increased, yet we are getting less bang for our buck,” Rush said.
Sophomore Sami Clarke agrees with Rush that the sides were better last semester.
“I hate it because you used to get two chips and then you would only eat one and save the other for a snack, or you could have a banana and cookies and have a healthy option,” Clarke said.
Not every student is against this change, however. Some students appreciate the larger serving sizes and new options.
“I don’t actually mind the change; the sides options are healthier and larger portions,” said sophomore Erica Gannon.
She adds that prior to this semester, they didn’t have oven-baked chips and it was mostly refrigerated options that were much smaller.
Director of Operations Mindy Murphy states that students who don’t appreciate the change will be reluctant at first to the new change but then grow to accept it.
“We did re-price everything and a lot of the items got cheaper. It’s less expensive to add on sides now. You can buy a cookie with your fruit,” Murphy said.
Knutson states that he is “obviously open to suggestions.” Students can put their feedback in the comment cards or go to the Drake University Sodexo Facebook page to give input.
