The dining at Dobbs University Center (DUC) has gotten a lot of criticism for its hours of operation and food choices. Recently, the DUC has decided to trial run a different kind of experience from November 12th to November 16th.
These changes will include ending Late Night and adding an occasional “Premium” option which will allow students to enjoy higher-quality foods like lobster and steak (vegetarians are exempt from paying the extra six) at the cost of six Dooley Dollars and a swipe. Instead of Late Night, the DUC will extends its dinner hours until 10 p.m.
After the trial, the Food Advisory Committee at Emory (FACE) will look at the number of swipes used on the days of the trial period to see if there are higher numbers associated with the trial days than those on “normal” DUC days.
We at the Wheel believe that these changes are a positive step for the DUC employees and the student body. Abolishing Late Night allows the DUC employees to go home at a more convenient hour. Considering some employees take the MARTA and the last bus comes at 12:13 a.m., it makes sense to let the employees off at an earlier time. Furthermore, freshmen do not have a lot of dining choices so offering premium items, on however small a scale, will allow for variation to their usual dining experience.
We applaud FACE for taking students opinions into consideration and working with Sodexo to bring about concrete change. Empirically speaking, this has not been the first time change has been implemented and it surely will not be the last. We find it progressive of Sodexo to be taking into account what its student body is saying as well as being more considerate to their workers.
We do, however, feel as if the trail period is too short. Perhaps a two week trial would allow for a better sense of how many students actually prefer the changes. Considering only one of the four days will be “Premium,” an extended period would be a better representation of what these changes will look like if they are implemented.
The above staff editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel‘s editorial board.
The Emory Wheel was founded in 1919 and is currently the only independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University. The Wheel publishes weekly on Wednesdays during the academic year, except during University holidays and scheduled publication intermissions.
The Wheel is financially and editorially independent from the University. All of its content is generated by the Wheel’s more than 100 student staff members and contributing writers, and its printing costs are covered by profits from self-generated advertising sales.
