The Student Center is a hub for students and faculty to come in and enjoy themselves. The building is home to coaching offices, The Cafe, and The Bookstore.

Over the summer, QU did a handful of renovations around campus. This included upgrades to buildings and adding different amenities across campus. The Cafe also got some new upgrades. The spice station is new and improved, and the menu has gotten larger in comparison to previous years.

However, one upgrade did not go as smoothly as hoped, The Cafe dish room. The dish room was completely renovated with new equipment and a conveyor system that transports dishes to the backroom. The total cost of the renovation was over $300,000.

While the other pieces of equipment arrived and were installed on time, the conveyor system created problems. The project was delayed due to manufacturing, forcing The Cafe to switch from silverware to disposable utensils as students arrived on campus. Officials had assured to The Cafe staff that the project would be completed by July 24. All students arrived on campus by August 24. The project was not completed.

The switch from silverware to disposable utensils caught students by surprise. Many students who stayed on campus during the summer saw the drastic shift in real time. This change created conversation across campus, with some students saying they were in favor of the change, and others voicing their displeasure.

The students who disliked the change say that plastic utensils made it difficult to cut through different foods, and the paper plates were not big enough. The students who in favor said that it promotes eating all of your food, and it is easier to transport food if you have leftovers.

“I actually really like it and I think it is a lot easier if you have leftovers. I do hope they keep it,” Casey Fronheiser said.

Joe Bordewick, The Cafe’s general manager, has made it clear that this switch is temporary despite some students hoping it stays around. Bordewick believes disposables have made a tough situation manageable, but emphasizes how unrealistic it is to continue down that path.

Bordewick believes that there are pros and cons to the switch, listing extra trash and ineffective eating techniques as issues that arose. However, Bordewick is appreciative of the response from students and staff, as he and his team navigated through the tough time.

“99% of the students that go to school here are better humans than I was at that age and they have been very respectful,” Bordewick said.

The conveyor system was installed in early September, and The Cafe’s process has gone back to normal. The new conveyor is larger in size and transports dishes to the dishroom faster in bigger quantities. Bordewick is excited about not only the new changes, but also the opportunity to make The Cafe as great an experience possible for students.