Students looking to escape the crowd in Residential College during lunch hours can now purchase to-go containers.
Dining Services added the option to purchase a reusable to-go container during lunch and breakfast hours at ResCo.
After students make their first purchase of the container, which costs $5, they return their rinsed container and swap it out for a sanitized one for another trip.
Talks to add this option began at the end of last year as a result of student input on needing a grab-and-go option, and the to-go boxes became available around the first week of September, Stacey Puck, director of dining services, said.
Nicolle von Helms, a freshman voice major, said this option could be very helpful.
She had not heard of the new option but will consider using it in the future.
“I don’t have lunch breaks at all on Mondays,” von Helms said. “I think it’s a good idea to have a way to get energy to make it through all your classes.”
Teri Clay, an Aramark employee, said that this was added to the dining options to reduce the carbon footprint, since the containers are BPA-free and reusable.
The ResCo dining room gets quite busy and packed around noon.
In an article about the “lunch crunch” from the Sept. 29, 2010 issue of The Butler Collegian, Puck said that ResCo serves 380 students before 12:15 p.m. on its busiest serving days.
Puck said that since ResCo does get busy, this new option provides convenience for students who may just have time to grab their food and go.
“[With this service] students can take their food back to their room or to study,” Jack London, ResCo sous chef, said.
London hosted a “Sustainable Day” in ResCo on Oct. 26, where 20 to-go containers were handed out to students.
“We awarded the students who treat the employees respectfully or who always seem super happy,” London said.
London said this new addition has been pretty slow taking off, but it will pick up as people learn more about it.
“I think it will be successful, because it might be useful for people who may not have time to eat [in the dining halls],” freshman pre-physician assistant major Claire Fullenkamp said.
Fullenkamp said that she would use this option if she needed to.
Dining services initially ordered 290 to-go containers but will get more if needed.
Clay and London are also looking into giving to-go containers to faculty and staff.
For information regarding this new dining option, contact London or any other staff member in ResCo during breakfast or lunch hours.
