Bradley University’s campus dining services have been facing ongoing changes during the 2020-21 academic year, and several alterations started at the beginning of this semester.
According to Susan Boettcher, director of food services, 30 percent of meal plan students elected to attend classes remotely in the fall semester of 2020. Due to the demand decrease, dining services made some operational adjustments for the spring semester.
The food court in the Michel Student Center now has smoothies from Jerry’s Juice Bar, which is currently closed in Markin. This option is open seven days out of the week into evening hours.
The boneless chicken wings that were once sold in the student center have been relocated to Center Court from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Geisert Dining Hall has also expanded their dining hours from 7:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday to Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday to Sunday.
Williams Dining Hall is closed but will be used for Lunch and Learn nutrition classes and culinary classes, which started on Feb. 10. These classes will be offered to students on a meal plan and will be limited in size due to COVID-19 restrictions with more details coming soon.
“We wanted to add a new feature for our students on campus that they might enjoy as we continue to evolve our operations during this time,” Boettcher said.
Delawder’s Deli reopened on Feb. 8 in the Business and Engineering Convergence Center. Meanwhile, the library’s Starbucks location, Stacks, is still closed.
Holly DeAtley, a senior health science major, is also hesitant about these changes, despite living off-campus.
“Even though many things have just been moved around, there aren’t as many options available for students, and the locations are much more condensed,” DeAtley said. “I know many people that are upset that Jerry’s closed for the semester. Yes, they’ve moved the smoothies to the student center, but they got rid of the breakfast and lunch sandwich options.”
Given the circumstances, DeAtley thinks that Dining Services is operating as well as they can while following the COVID-19 guidelines. However, she was frustrated by its lack of communication with the students considering the drastic changes of the times and relocations.
“We are in the process of adding some fun promotions for spring, including a weeklong program taking place during what would have been spring break. We are also continuing to expand our Quick Eats program,” Boettcher said.
Students at Bradley have had to cope with the movements and closing of the dining services available.
Jack Batz, a freshman mechanical engineering major, said that the boneless wings being relocated wasn’t his favorite choice as he and his friends would walk there at midnight.
“So now we have to go to Center Court just for more options,” Batz said. “Not being able to eat at Williams for dinner or lunch is also kind of unfortunate because I did like their options more than Geisert.”
For more information about Bradley Dining Services and what they offer, visit their Instagram and Facebook page, @BradleyDining or on their website BradleyDining.com.
