The start of the spring semester saw new changes in the dining halls including the short use of disposable plates and cutlery and expanded dining hours.

“In South Quad, our dish machine broke down last semester, so during finals week we had to swap them with Styrofoam plates and cups,” Coffey said.

Coffey says that this issue typically happens in Stevenson Hall, and one alternative was to swap it until the dish machine was fixed.  

“At the beginning of the semester, we expected the dish machine to be fixed, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. But it has now been fixed recently,” Coffey said.  

 Executive Director of Housing and Dining Services Mark Hudson gave props to the dining staff for working through the dishwasher difficulties and the shortness of staff.   

“If you have someone that’s retiring or found another job, they will sometimes give us notice that they are departing and sometimes they leave the same day, so you have adjust all the people around to make sure they all the things that happen and it’s a bit stressful,” Hudson said.  

According to Hudson, EIU has a prime vendor contract with Gordon Food Service, meaning most all groceries are from the company.  

“Sometimes at dining halls you would see meal or menu changes because we run of it at the last minute and so you almost have to flip it,” Hudson said.   

In addition to the newly working dishwasher returning, Dinner After Hours, similar to Late Night Pizza in South Quad but with more food every Monday to Wednesday night, has returned to Stevenson Hall for the spring semester. 

Though, Coffey said, they are still one cook short right now. 

“We were still losing staff to retirement too, so even though we didn’t have the original six it would still be a juggly act,” Hudson said, adding on to Coffey’s comment. 

Though it can be a tough time in the kitchen, Hudson said he appreciates the work that is still being taken care of and is proud of all his staff. 

“I think it’s important that the students or the staff really appreciate when the students say stuff to them, it makes their day,” Hudson said.  

For those wanting to give feedback on the dining halls, Hudson said to contact him. One method is through comment cards, an online feedback process that gives students the opportunity to share likes and dislikes or just ideas.   

Koria Downs can be reached at 581-2812 or at kdowns@eiu.edu.