Because of Ohio University’s “You Spoke, We Listened” campaign, West Green residents now have a weekend Grab N Go option at Boyd Dining Hall.
Based off of Jefferson Dining Hall’s success and student input, OU has decided to try the carryout option in Boyd this quarter, said Carlos Samano, assistant director of sales, promotion and research for Culinary Services.
Previously, Boyd offered no such option because of the lack of traffic on weekends.
“It makes it more convenient to eat on West Green during the weekend,” freshman Steve Uhlmann said.
The Dining Services Development Committee, a student-run organization that meets with Culinary Services on a bi-weekly basis to voice and discuss student comments and brought up the problem, said OU senior Evan Wilkof, chair of the committee.
“Our main purpose is to enhance quality for both students and university members and have an influence on dining halls as retail venues,” he said.
Culinary Services has also begun placing signs with the slogan “You Spoke, We Listened” to inform students that their input has prompted the changes.
“We felt it is important not to just make changes but let the students know it’s their change,” Samano said.
Dining halls strive to make food taste better through new recipes and smaller batches of food to maintain freshness in all halls, which is the “direction we want to move into,” Samano said.
Nelson Dining Hall now offers a new variety bar that rotates items everyday so students don’t have to eat the same thing each day.
“You can make the best food, but having it every day gets boring,” Samano said.
Culinary Services also now offers vegetarian options at all dining halls, as well as a new deli in Boyd and vegan wrap in Nelson.
In all dining halls, soups will now rotate in two-week periods, with different soups every day as opposed to the same soup corresponding to the day of the week.
Dining halls weren’t the only parts of campus that changed.
West 82 Food Court in Baker University Center also extended its hours of operation by 30 minutes — now closing at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 p.m. Friday.
Culinary Services receives the majority of individual feedback through social media and the new comment cards now located at every venue, Samano said.
Otherwise, students and faculty can either email suggestions to Culinary Services at dining@ohiou.edu or attend a development committee meeting.
“When we ask, we really want (your) opinion,” Samano said. “We really want to know and make a change.”
af234909@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCampus
