By Brayden Nuessen

Big changes are coming for eating options at Quincy University.

The Hawks’ Hangout and QYO Sweet Treats Café are closing. The school has also introduced new meal plans.

Christine Tracy, dean of students and academic success, explained more about the closing of the Hawks’ Hangout (the UC) and QYO.

“Right now, it is financially not responsible to have four open places to eat,” Tracy said.

They are currently looking to fill the space of the two places.

Some students are unhappy with the closing of the Hawks Hangout as it was their main choice of dining options.

“I am not a fan because you could grab and go at the hangout. It was more convenient for most people,” sophomore Jessica Poore said.

Junior Conner Sendobry is also frustrated.

“I don’t like the fact that the Hangout is closing because it was a place where you could go and get a snack,” he said. “For me, it is going to hurt me because I don’t really go to the cafe.”

There are no current plans to what will replace the UC or QYO. However, Tracy said that the school will have something in those places by the fall semester.

Tracy wants feedback from students as to what they want to see in those two places.

“If students have feedback on what they love to see, then come see me in my office for suggestions,” Tracy said.

Joe Bordewick, director of dining services, released the following new changes for the dining services.

• The campus dorm (Padua, Willer, Helein, Garner, Friars) resident meal plan will be MDR All-Access: unlimited dine-in meal swipes at the Main Dining Room from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, including full breakfast from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., full lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., full dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and limited dining options in between meal periods.
• The plan comes with 100 flex dollars per semester for purchasing snacks, beverages and late night grill items. *One MDR carry-out meal OR one North Campus Dining meal exchange (but not both) is allowed daily.
• Campus house, apartment & SLC residents will still receive 350 flex dollars or the Bronze meal plan and can purchase MDR All-Access, the Gold plan, the Bronze plan, or add flex dollars at any time.
• Commuter students can also purchase MDR All-Access, the Gold plan, the Bronze plan, or add flex dollars at any time. Commuters will have the opportunity to purchase a special, discounted commuter meal plan one time per semester.
• Ten bonus meals have been added to the Gold plan and five bonus meals to the Bronze plan. There will be no price increase to meal plans again for 2017-2018.
• A new flex dollar bonus has been added – $5 free flex for every $45 added by students, faculty or staff.
• Café door rates have been lowered for 2017-2018. Flex prices for all-you-care-to-eat food and drink tax-included will be $5.19 for breakfast, $8.78 for lunch and $9.68 for dinner.
• The hours of operation will be reduced for North Campus Dining.
• Dining services donations and sponsorship will be eliminated.
• The Faculty and Staff meal plan price will increase.

Joe Bordewick released an official statement in which he explained the reasoning for the changes.

“No different from other departments on campus, dining services will be impacted by QU’s financial recovery process. We will be working very hard to continue improving our dining program again next year even with these changes. Currently, the All-Access meal plan provides tremendous value for campus residents. If QU succeeds at reaching targeted enrollment growth in the coming years, there may be opportunities to add more flexibility to the dining program, including possibly another dining location.”

Follow qumedia.net to see updates on what will fill the UC and QYO spaces.