SRSU Dining Hall Revamp
By Gisselle Rueda, Skyline Reporter
ALPINE - In response to student complaints, Sul Ross State University plans to revamp the dining hall and upgrade the menu.
A recent survey found that more than one-half of students who responded said they did not use campus dining services.
According to Betse Esparza, the decision to improve the dining hall was ultimately made as a result of the Campus Environment Survey, but students have consistently brought the issue to light. The Freshmen Leadership Program conducted a petition during the Spring 2023 semester in hopes of pushing the university to improve the dining services. And in a previous Skyline story, “The Food Desert of Sul Ross State University,” nearly half of the SRSU students who took part in a public opinion poll said that the quality of food offered by the SRSU Food Court was unsatisfactory.
The Skyline asked John Howle, SRSU’s director of food services, if the student feedback played a part in deciding to revamp the dining services on campus.
“We are always working to improve the dining experience and appreciate all feedback that will help us make the cafeteria a better place to eat,” Howle said. “Our goal is to continue to add variety and peoples favorite food to our menu.”
In an email to faculty and staff, Esparza said that changes have been made, and will continue to be made, to the SRSU Dining Hall. The improvements that have been made so far include the addition of a hot grill, sandwich bar, panini press, chicken wings, lasagna, beef enchiladas, and “Ice Cream Wednesdays.” The dining hall hours have also been extended until 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Other improvements that will be made include new furniture, monthly meetings between the director of food services and the food committee, the reintegration of silverware instead of plasticware, and an update to the website that accurately lists menu items. The Athletic Department has requested specific meal planning for athletes, and Howle is looking into options to make that happen.
Extended dining hours, additional items on the menu, and seating area quality were mentioned in the petition that was conducted by the Freshmen Leadership Program during the Spring 2023 semester. The annual campus survey, however, simply asked participants how satisfied or dissatisfied they were with the dining hall services, and if they used the them.