A dining info-graphic courtesy of Dana Lee.

JOE KRISKO | STAFF REPORTER | jkrisko@butler.edu

Following a campus-wide survey and focus groups over the summer, Butler’s students and staff can expect many upcoming changes to dining on campus.

In addition to the new food options and increased hours already available at Atherton, ResCo and C-Club, on-campus diners will start to enjoy more options.

Changes will include expanded options for the use of Dawg Bucks at Scotty’s Dawghouse and Metro Diner on campus, along with a new meal plan options for the 2019-20 school year.

Students now also have dining options on South Campus. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, meals will be available for purchase through Dawg Bucks or by paying out of pocket.  

Some of these changes have already begun, including new options at the Atherton and ResCo dining halls. Atherton has opened its pasta bar, added more vegan options and healthier drinks. Atherton has also incorporated more breakfast options, including a permanent omelet and pancake station.

“The variety is the most important thing,” said Logan MacLean, a first-year accounting major.

C-Club will also take part in menu expansions, adding additional grab-and-go options. Papa John’s pizza will no longer be sold in response to its founder’s racists comments during a conference call about issues related to race.

“That’s not who we are at Butler,” said Frank Ross, vice president for student affairs. “His racist language is contrary to the values of Butler. Like any university, it’s important for us to create a campus community that’s welcoming to everyone and everyone feels like they belong.”

Sophomore political science major Mikayla Whittemore shared many of Ross’s sentiments.

“There will be students who are offended by what happened… so if they don’t want to give their business to them, then so be it,” Whittemore said.

In place of Papa John’s, C-Club will offer fresh in-house pizza instead.

In the future, Butler is looking to provide more alternatives for meal plans for the next academic year. The increase in options means students will not have to purchase the all-access meal plan when it is not necessary or required.  

Shelby Mohr, a first-year political science major, said she was excited about this change.  

“I don’t use [Atherton] very often, so unlimited swipes is kind of pointless,” Mohr said.  

First-year English major George Sullivan also expressed his interest in more meal plan options to avoid having to eat in the dining halls all the time.

“I don’t want to be eating a cheeseburger every single day,” Sullivan said.  

Aramark will continue to be the school’s dining services provider throughout the remainder of this academic year. However, in October, Ross will launch a request for proposals from dining service providers for the 2019-20 school year.

“By December, we should have all of the proposals submitted,” Ross said. “Then we’ll have a committee of folks from across the campus, students included, to help us select our next partner.”

Aramark has acknowledged their intention to submit a proposal through this process, meaning there still may be a chance they will continue to work with the university moving forward.

Ross said Student Affairs hopes to announce a new dining partner in February 2019. The new provider will take over for the 2019-2020 academic year.