Students expressed their concerns about changing dining center hours to Panther Dining representatives at Tuesday’s dining forum.

Students were given the chance to meet with a panel of representatives in Thomas Hall Dining Center from Panther Dining to give suggestions on how to improve the campus dining halls.

“We have these forums at least once a semester,” said Susan White, associate director of University Dining. “The biggest changes have been the hour extensions.”

Taylor is one of the dining centers, along with Tower Dining, that changed its hours by pushing back breakfast by 15 minutes.

“When we changed the hours at (Tower), and Thomas, those ideas came from the forums,” Horn said.

This is about the fourth dining forum that has been held, said Jody Horn, director of University Dining.

“I love the forums,” Horn said. “We get to hear directly from the students, and I think it’s good for the students to get to know us.”

The forum was held at the end of the lunch rush with students and Panther Dining representatives sitting side-by-side, sharing their ideas for change.

Students have taken note of some of the changes from previous forums.

Lakresha Lucas, a junior biology major, was one of the students who attended the forum and approved of the changes they made.

“They have opened Late Night longer, which is nice,” Lucas said. “The forums have been very helpful.”

But some students, like Rachel Buckley, a freshman nursing major, would like to see Panther Dining make some more changes.

“I would like to see better quality food,” Buckley said. “I don’t like their breakfast.”

The food and the times may not be the only changes. Jamie Huckstead, Tower Dining Center Assistant Director, said students could look forward to a possible renovation to Tower Dining that would eliminate the long cramped lines.

Dane Urban can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].