By Hailey Cylinder and Nina Weiland
Changes are on the way for the Levin Dining Hall after first-week complaints and suggestions.
The dining hall, which is now being run by Aramark Collegiate Hospitality under the name Aggie Fresh Co., is the biggest change, students said. With the introduction of Aggie Fresh Co., there’s been a massive overhaul of the entire system from the dining hall to the pub, now renamed “The Drop.” Ordering has transitioned to Grubhub.
Students and staff across campus have been polled and interviewed for their thoughts and experiences on these changes.
The initial reduction in hours was a shock to Senior Trinity Gomez, who was among many students who headed there later in the evening only to find the doors closed. Fellow senior Abby said, “The hours are a big point of contention and concern. I got out at 8:15 last night and the dining hall was closed. I didn’t eat dinner.”
When asked about student concerns, general manager Guy Defazio said, “There are some changes that students might see over the next few weeks…we will be very transparent and forward in our communication and our reasoning as to why we’re making those decisions.” Defazio also explained that “The university made an agreement with Aramark with the new contract, what the hours were going to be…..If there are any changes with the hours, the university will send out a statement.”
In fact, the university did send out a statement late Wednesday afternoon. Vice President Jim Cooper addressed student concerns directly:
“Thank you for your patience as we work together with our new dining partner, Aggie Fresh Co., to bring you a great dining experience at DelVal. We have received a lot of feedback and we heard you. This week, three of the restaurants at The Drop at The Pub are open past 8 pm for late night until 11 pm… Beginning Monday, Sept. 8, all six restaurants will be serving their full menus into late night, Monday through Thursday, and we’ve expanded the $8 Meal Deal menus to 10 offerings. We are also adding gluten-friendly bread, rolls, and wraps at The Drop, and Levin Dining Hall’s Friday hours will be extended to 8 pm.”
He added that student feedback will continue to guide dining adjustments and announced a “Dine with the Directors” forum later this month for students to share input directly with Aggie Fresh Co. leaders.
Students do hope more concerns are addressed.
Another major concern from students is the current lack of clear labeling of food options and a decrease in the available allergen-friendly food. Senior Adham El-Meghalawi expressed, “As someone who tries to eat gluten-free…I feel like they kinda took away a lot of the allergy options.”
El-Meghalawi said that the Aggie Fresh Co. staff have plans in the works to have a completely allergen-free kitchen and seems satisfied with the gluten-free options currently available, especially the snickerdoodles, and understands that the dining hall “It still has lots to improve, but it’s finding its ground.”
The new way of ordering with the Grubhub app has caused confusion across campus, with some students, such as sophomores Aliyah and Tamly, not aware of the change, and others unsatisfied with the layout. Gomez explained, “I’m not a super huge fan of the new Grubhub thing….all the different restaurants, so it’s kinda confusing. And one of the images for one of the restaurants is tacos, and they don’t offer any tacos.”
The student body is asking for simple, straightforward options for food ordering–with accessibility being the paramount concern.
They are following through with the addition of a hot gluten-free section after being notified, though some students still feel this area needs work. DelVal Full 360 Student Media President Hannah Hoffman, reporting on this story, observed: “Many of the sous chefs and dining staff have stayed despite the shift, and they are very kind and willing to help. As someone with severe allergies, even though I wish I did not have to bother a busy staff member and ask for assistance, the sous chefs are very kind and will tell me all ingredients and cross-contamination risks in dishes when I actually ask them.”
Concerns over the changes sparked a student-led Instagram account. Using the title @aggieunfreshfood, an Instagram account is sharing student reports of food from the dining facilities on campus, presumably intended to spread awareness and work to improve the dining services. Though some of the content is polls asking students about their overall feedback, they have also posted photos, including one of a chicken sandwich with gray meat and a large hollow center. The student body has significantly backed this account, demonstrating this with a gain of nearly 400 followers in just a few days.
Despite the account and the criticisms, many students, including El-Meghalawi and Spencer Smith, both say that the food quality is an improvement from years past. Smith confirmed, “Especially, I would say, in regards to breakfast and lunch.”
With changes announced across the dining system including longer hours, more and cheaper meal deals at The Drop, along with full menus into the later hours, gluten-free options at The Drop.
Hoffman, summing up the reporting and student feedback this week, said:
“While there are student complaints regarding the new Dining Hall setup, Aggie Fresh Co is receptive to student feedback. It is vital that students continue to advocate for themselves, to ensure that the needs of DelVal students are met. With just a few personal interviews and some data gathering, it is already clear that reasonable hours, safe/healthy food, consideration for allergens, and financial feasibility are things that DelVal and the dining services must prioritize. Check your email and stay tuned for updates from the Dining Hall and The Full 360 Reporting Team.”
