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Cafeteria closure puts pressure on other dorms

By Daily Bruin Staff

Oct. 13, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Monday, October 14, 1996

HOUSING:

Renovations to Rieber send residents flocking to Sunset DiningBy
Toni Dimayuga

Daily Bruin Contributor

Built decades ago, the on campus dormitories Rieber, Hedrick,
Dykstra and Sproul Halls are in for a dining facilities
face-lift.

A two-year analysis of food service programs, based on input
from customer satisfaction reports, led to decisions to update the
dining halls within the aging dorms, said Michael Foraker, director
of On-Campus Housing.

To maintain customer satisfaction, they needed to update the
food-producing equipment and kitchens.

"We needed a significant amount of renovation and technology,"
Foraker said.

Rieber Hall dining has been closed for renovation since Aug. 19,
causing Rieber and Saxon Suites residents to utilize their meal
plans in the other halls.

To accommodate the displaced Rieber and Saxon occupants, Foraker
said On-Campus Housing has rearranged cafeteria hours in the other
halls.

Students can now eat between 7 a.m. and midnight, since some
dining halls have extended their hours.

The Hard Hat Cafe at the Rieber back patio, which serves dinner
for about 250 students, has also been opened for students’
convenience. A Microfridge, free of charge, was provided in each of
the rooms in Rieber and Saxon Suites.

Despite these accommodations, the majority of Rieber and Saxon
dwellers tend to flock to one place ­ Sunset Village Commons.
Since Sunset is the newest dining facility, built in the early
’90s, students perceive it as better than the older dining areas
and are more inclined to eat there, Foraker said.

Some Sunset Village residents are displeased with the long lines
caused by so many students.

"It was pretty crowded last year, but it wasn’t this bad," said
Marisa Marcos, a second-year biology student and resident of Sunset
Village.

"There’s like this huge influx of new people, and with Rieber
closing down, everyone’s coming down here. We have to pay so much
more than they do …"

Some students have said that the extra people have made the
Sunset dining area full around the clock.

"It’s crowded all the time, except for Friday nights before 8 p.
m. Last year it would only be crowded at around 6 p. m., but this
year it’s already crowded by 5," said Tom Schwartz, a fourth-year
Japanese Studies student.

But not all student complaints come from residents of Sunset
Village.

"Sometimes I don’t eat because the lines are so long," said
Wendy Lin, a first-year undeclared student.and a resident of Rieber
hall.

Other students however, explained that they have had no problems
regarding the present dining situation.

"It wasn’t that big of a deal because there’s the Hard Hat Cafe,
stuff like that," said Mike Yu, a first-year biology student and
Rieber resident.

Sunset Dining employees have felt the pressure of catering to
the almost 2,000 students per meal, said Juvenal Solis, a
fifth-year undeclared student and one of the student supervisors in
Sunset Dining.

"There’s a lot of people quitting, because some people can’t
handle it … there’s just too much work, you know," he said.

Students have complained that the dining facility runs out of
supplies like plates and utensils, providing plasticware
instead.

"I don’t understand why they can’t provide clean utensils and
plates, and why they can’t refill the drink machines properly."
Schwartz said.

Solis attributed such occurrences to lack of employees.Despite
the fact that about 5-6 former Rieber dining employees are
currently working in Sunset, as they have been dispersed throughout
the rest of the dining halls, the ratio of workers to customers is
far too great.

However, some employees, such as Marilyn King, a third-year
English student, believe that there is no difference between this
year and last year since Sunset is always popular and hectic in the
beginning of the year.

Taking some of the pressure off the newer Sunset Commons dining
hall is one of the many reasons that Rieber is being renovated.

"We’re attempting to achieve those same levels of customer
satisfaction to Rieber," Foraker said. "I imagine the students from
Saxon Suites and Rieber will be delighted in eating at the
(renovated facility)."

Lin agrees that the renovated Rieber dining hall ­ slated
for completion in early January ­ will enjoy the same
popularity as Sunset.

Hedrick’s dining hall is scheduled for renovation next year,
officials said. Currently, no decision has been made to update
Sproul and Dykstra facilities.

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