You’ve probably noticed already, but there have been major changes to Park’s dining services this year. The cafeteria itself has experienced a full makeover, the hours have been extended and a new meal plan has been implemented by the President in an effort to lower costs to students.

The cafeteria is now open nonstop from 7 AM to 7 PM, and the meal plan options have been changed. The “All-Access” block costs $1,750 per semester and provides an unlimited meal count. The 200-meal block, providing 200 meals for the semester, costs $1,500 per semester and also includes $100 in “flex dollars.” The 125-meal block is also $1,500 per semester and includes $275 in flex dollars. Flex dollars can be used at Zime and the Jolly Roger Café. All three of these residential plans include 10 guest passes per semester.

Additionally, there is now a “Pirate Plan” specifically for commuter students, which costs $100 and provides 17 meals for the semester and $20 in flex dollars.

Kathleen Robey, Food Services Director of Park, said the changes in the meal plan came about due to student feedback from surveys, focus groups and verbal feedback received around campus over the years.

“The students wanted the change,” Robey said. “We tried to make it better for them. It helped the president lower the cost to students, with more value for students, so we did it for that. It’s all about the students.”

The cafeteria itself has changed, too. There are now more tables in the cafeteria and booths along one wall, along with new paint and brighter lighting. The salad bar was reconfigured and the Chef’s Station features were moved directly to the front. The back room was extended and much of the back-of-house equipment was renovated.

Senior Business Administration major Haley Weatherford, for one, was excited about the changes. “I love my university, but it’s an older one,” Weatherford said. “Seeing campus change so often from freshman to senior year has been a trip. I would never have thought about renovating the cafeteria, as I had no real complaints with it originally, but now that it’s done, I love it. The cafeteria really feels like a home now and I love doing homework in the booths.”

Weatherford also expressed that there are other changes she’d like to see. “I hope we can see some further decorations on the first floor of Thompson,” she said, “to really fully update the Thompson Commons. I wish the bathrooms there were renovated, too, but it’s nothing I can really complain about.”

In addition to the renovations to the cafeteria itself, the air conditioning and heating systems throughout the building were improved. Robey said that construction started in April and lasted through August 8. The renovations to this part of campus are completed.