With lines in the Orleans Room reaching the booths in the back of the Orleans Room Lounge, Dining Services has come up with a new concept to expedite the process.
Caitlin Brewster, Sodexo representative on campus, announced the food service company has introduced the OR To Go program this fall.
This idea originated after Dining Services received complaints from students that the line was too long and it took them a long time to get their food.
“We tried to create something where students can still use their meal swipes, grab the items they want and then go,” Brewster said.
The program intends to solve the traffic caused by the rush of students that go the Orleans Room for lunch during the week.
“It’s only available for lunch Monday through Friday, and there will be specific food items for the students to choose,” she said.
This program will consist of providing food to students in a fast and efficient way to expedite the process. Students will be able to go to the Orleans Room and swipe their identification card on the machine and then get their food.
This program, however, is restricted to meals only, meaning that students can’t pay with Wolfbucks.
After the students have their cards swiped, they will proceed to a specific section of the Orleans Room where food will be placed on a table.
There will be three separate sections with different entrees, sides and drinks and students can choose one of each.
“They will be able to swipe their card, choose from the cooler and then walk out,” she said.
Brewster is expecting about 100 students to use this new system, but said they are ready for any amount of students.
Dining Services also addressed another problem they were faced with last semester — students often found themselves without places to sit and eat their food.
According to Brewster, Dining Services added more seats in the Orleans Room to accommodate the students.
“We ordered a ton of new tables, a couple hundred more seats,” she said.
Brewster also met with Sarah Cooper student government association president and marketing senior, and Maria Rossi, vice president and English junior, to see how they could alter the meal plans.
This did not result in any changes since the meal plans were already set for this year, but are planning to change them for the 2010-2011 school year.
This new program led to the creation of a new commissary kitchen that prepares the sandwiches in the Danna Student Center basement where Satchmo’s was housed last year.
Dining Services hired seven new employees to place in different places, including the commissary kitchen, with two employees working in the OR To Go station.
The hires were also the result of a change in cooking procedures.
“We’re trying to go to more cook on the spot as opposed to heat and serve so we had to hire more talented cooks and chefs,” she said.
Eduardo Gonzalez can be reached at [email protected]
