Rumors regarding new campus dining options have been spreading across the university, and although the rumors are not true, exciting things are happening in dining services.
Earlier this year, rumors began that a new Subway restaurant would be coming to Union and would occupy the space now held by the Lexington Inn. Tony Meek, Aramark food services director, said that is not the case.
“Aramark and Union University are always discussing ways we can work together to improve the student experience,” Meek said. “However, as of now, there is no plan to bring a Subway restaurant on campus.”
Union University President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said that Union is looking into bringing in a national brand, and more information will likely be available by spring.
Lacie Fink, junior accounting major and vice president of the Student Government Association, said that SGA is also working on ways to improve dining at Union.
“We have several ideas we want to do,” Fink said. “One is to have a kind of meal review systems where students can give feedback on what is served.”
Fink said discussions of new ideas are still in the works, and some of the ideas will hopefully be implemented by the end of the semester. She said her main goal is to connect students to dining services so that they can have a say in what options are available
“We are the ones who eat there, and we want to have a voice,” Fink said.
Last spring, dining services presented menu selections at the March SGA senate meeting and allowed the representatives to vote on the meals for the last 4 weeks of the semester, Meek said.
“That was a good way to bring student opinion in and let them know what we think,” Fink said. “We want to do more things like that.”
Fink said she wants to organize an SGA group to focus on improving dining at Union. She added that any ideas for improvements or changes must be approved by several different people, so it can take time to get things started.
Meek said he is excited about the future of Union dining, and he enjoys hearing from students. He said he hosts monthly meetings, called “Dining with the Director”, where he invites students and faculty from many organizations and classifications to eat with him and discuss dining improvements.
“We are always looking for ways to improve our guest service and menu selections,” Meek said.
