Students returning to Akers and Hubbard halls will take part in an experimental food service project this semester.
MSU food service officials consolidated the two cafeterias Monday, meaning 2,200 students will see more options and extended hours for spring semester.
“It is an improvement and realignment of food services,” said Bruce Haskell, food service coordinator. “We are looking at how we can best serve the customer.”
The change is part of MSU’s 2020 Vision master plan for the future of campus. University officials may also broaden the meal service change, Haskell said.
“If it works, it could be seen throughout the campus,” he said.
This action is the result of feedback from a number of campus focus groups, said Matt McKune, manager of Hubbard and Akers halls.
McKune said roughly 1,000 Akers residents already eat at Hubbard Hall.
Residents will see the closing of Akers’ cafeteria during the weekends. During the week, the Hubbard cafeteria will be closed from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. but will be open one hour later every night.
Akers resident Kara Nygren said while she frequents the Holmes Hall cafeteria, she will eat at Hubbard more often because it is open later.
“Granted, they are shutting our cafeteria down on the weekends, but the fact that they are making Hubbard open longer at night, I think is a very good trade-off,” the medical technology junior said.
Three specialty stations designed to provide more meal options also will be added to both cafeterias. Hubbard Hall will provide a new sandwich, salad and soup-to-order station and a pasta-to-order station.
A pizza and sub shop will be available to patrons of Akers cafeteria during the afternoon.
“It will improve efficiency and offers opportunity and variety for the students,” said Larry Tarnowski, food service coordinator for Hubbard and Akers halls. “It offers a philosophy of different styles of food service down the road.”
However, those styles have one chemical engineering sophomore not happy about having to go to Hubbard on the weekend.
“I don’t like the fact that I have to walk outside in the cold on the weekends,” Akers resident Joe Belian said.
