Bon Appétit

Campus dining returns with new facilities, meal plans

August 25, 2005 —

by Brandon Kish

by Ashley Hart

A Dining Services employee prepares one of the many dishes available at the new RFoC. The RFoC will not only provide students with a wider selection of menu items than what was once available at the Doan Cafe, but will also provide a number of students with on-campus employment throughout the semester.

by Ashley Hart

RAs eat by the new fireplace located in the RFoC. Some meal plans available through Dining Services offer the opportunity to treat co-workers or friends using a declining meal balance throughout the semester. Debit dollars are also available for locations such as Einstein's Food Court, Java City and the C-Store, and can also be used at the RFoC in place of the meal balance.

by Ashley Hart

Some of the new food items on display in the entrance to the RFoC. Some of the new items available are grilled salmon, BBQ spare ribs and baked snapper.

by Ashley Hart

Some of the new food items on display in the entrance to the RFoC. Some of the new items available are grilled salmon, BBQ spare ribs and baked snapper.

Dinner is served.

And brunch.

There's time set aside for snacks too.

RFoC has arrived.

The RFoC is officially here-the main course, if you will, of the many changes to dining services since the winter semester officially came to a close last April. The million dollar renovation to the Doan cafe has given birth to a new dining concept at SVSU, replacing the "all we want you to have" system with an "all you care to eat" concept that is sure to be popular among students and faculty alike.

Meal plans are essentially replacing debit dollars as the main form of food purchase on campus. Students with meal plans will have a certain number of guaranteed "meals" they can use throughout the week. Enter the RFoC and one meal is subtracted from your meal balance, (though you could theoretically eat more in that one sitting than you could in three meals before). Debit dollars will still be available for use at Einstein's Food Court, Java City, the C-Store, and any other Dining Services retailer. Debit dollars can also be used at the RFoC for those who do not have meal plans. And as a convenience to students, purchases with debit dollars are free of sales tax.

As for the food itself, a variety of items will be available that will make the selections from last year's Doan seem like a half-empty vending machine. The usual pizza, cheeseburgers and french fries will still be available, but now items such as baked ziti, spicy buffalo chicken panini and baked snapper will be served as well. And for those students worried that all-you-care-to-eat dining will turn the "freshman fifteen" into the "freshman fifty," the RFoC has a selection of healthier foods such as vegetarian grilled boca burgers, grilled vegetables and salads for their enjoyment.

For students who long for the glory days of the old Doan, the food available there has been moved across campus to the new Einstein's Food Court. Concepts such as Quiznos and The Grille have relocated to the new addition near Zahnow, which is sure to be a celebrated move among commuters who previously had to settle for the limited choices offered at the old Einstein's in Science East.

Speaking of the old Einstein's, it has now become the new home for Java City, where sleepy students can still get their cappuccinos, mochas, espressos and caramel macchiatos as well as a selection of popular items once only available at the C-Store.

So then what happens to the old location of Java City? Dining Services says that it will soon become the new home of an ice cream and pretzel establishment that is sure to eliminate late night hunger pains with a selection of sweet and salty items.

One other major change is also on the horizon that will put smiles on the faces of hungry students without cash. All Dining Services locations will soon accept credit and debit cards and put an end to the pesky finance charges for those who don't have an account with TCF and are forced to use the ATM. For those who do bank at TCF or don't mind paying the transaction fee, old fashioned cash is still accepted at all locations, including the RFoC.

A useful feature that will soon become available is the completely overhauled Dining Services Web site.

The new site (www.svsu.campusdish.com) will provide the usual contact information and hours of operation as well as the day's menu items, meal plan information and each food item's nutritional information.

While still in development, Dining Services expects the site to be completed soon and fully accesible to students and staff alike.

"It's all about putting our services where they are needed and when they are needed," said Heidi Shattuck, Dining Services marketing manager. "We've put a lot of thought and effort into the services we provide to our community here at SVSU."