Due to increased demand for on-Grounds dining, construction and recent weather conditions, students have faced increased congestion at Newcomb Hall dining facilities.
According to dining hall supervisor Hagel "Hamburger" Morris, students have been patient and understanding despite lines that can span the length of the hallway.
She attributed recent difficulties to Hurricane Isabel.
"This week we've been shorthanded because of Isabel. A lot of people didn't come in," Morris said.
Eddy Whedbee, associate director of dining, attributed the long lines in Newcomb Hall to an increase in popularity of meal plans among University students.
"We have this year more voluntary meal plans than first-year meal plans," Whedbee said. He added that University students purchased over 7000 meal plans this year.
Whedbee said more University students hold meal plans this year because the dining halls have improved over the last few years.
"We've moved away from institutional dining," Whedbee said. "We do more carved meats and specially prepared meals. We're trying to change the image of dining to that of a nice restaurant."
In order to accomplish this, dining officials have changed everything from the colors used to decorate the dining halls to the pots used to cook the foods.
Morris agreed with Whedbee's assessment.
"We've changed things around here and made things nicer," she said. "We now offer four types of mints."
Dining cashier Kathy McGruder said she would like to see the hours of service in Newcomb Hall expanded, because she often must turn students away.
"We just want to make sure you guys eat," McGruder said. "We want you to have a smile on your face going in and going out."
Both McGruder and Morris claimed that they have heard few students complain about the service. Morris said students recognize that if they want to eat at a certain time of day, they will have to wait.
First-year College student Mary Burke agreed.
"I expect Newcomb to be crowded, but the others aren't so bad," Burke said.
Whedbee said long lines are unavoidable.
"There are certain times when we could have a 2000-seat dining room and it wouldn't be enough," Whedbee said.
Pavilion XI manager Chuck Cloutier said the Pavilion also has had an increase in sales this semester. He attributed the increase to changes made recently to the menus in the Pavilion.
For example, the Pavilion now offers a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in Montague's Deli.
"We've put together a nutritious menu that's not traditionally considered fast food," Cloutier said.
Whedbee said he expected that when the new Observatory Hill dining hall opens next year, Newcomb Hall will be under less pressure to accommodate students.
"Newcomb's my favorite dining hall," fourth-year College student Jill Landefeld said. "I have a limited meal plan, and Newcomb Hall is a great place to meet people socially."
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