Is Weekend Dining Falling Short?
Saxby's new Irish Potato Latte is now being sold. Photo by Ava Battinelli '26
A new semester usually brings change - new classes, new routines and new energy. But when it comes to campus dining, many students say it feels rather unchanged. While campus life shifts each term, the dining experience seems to stay mostly the same.
During the week, the campus offers a range of dining options across multiple locations. Students recognize that there is a variety available. As one off-campus student explained, there are “different types of cuisine” spread throughout campus and offered at different times during the day. On paper, the options seem balanced and convenient.
The bigger concern, however, is the weekend.
When Saturday and Sunday arrive, fewer locations are open and hours are reduced. What feels like variety during the week starts to feel limited. For example, the only late-night weekend options for a student living on campus are Cabaret and Yella’s. An on-campus student shared, “On weekends, I often find myself ordering from somewhere off campus because not enough options are available.” When multiple locations close, students are left with only a small selection to choose from.
For students who stay on campus, this can be frustrating. Weekends are often when students catch up on schoolwork, attend events, recover from a busy week or simply spend time with friends. With fewer dining choices open, flexibility disappears. Instead of choosing what they want, students choose from what is left.
Repetition also becomes more noticeable over time. Even with different cuisines offered across campus, the dining hall menu does not rotate frequently. One student explained that “the worst part is when the options get repetitive in the dining hall.” When choices stay the same week after week, meals begin to feel predictable. Students may default to the same foods out of habit, not because they are excited about them.
Location plays a role as well. An off-campus student noted that when living farther from the main dining hall, it felt like “a long journey,” and having a closer option like Marketplace made a big difference. This shows that variety is not just about how many options exist, but how accessible they are to students in different residence areas. For those who live across the bridge, Steel Plant and Marketplace are the only options close to home.
Campus dining does have strengths. Students appreciate the quick service, and some even have go-to items - a fan favorite being the bagels from Eastdale that are sold at the library. The issue is not necessarily a lack of food options overall, but when and how those options are available, especially on weekends.
A complete overhaul may not be necessary. However, extending weekend hours, keeping more locations open or rotating menu items more often could make a noticeable difference in how students experience campus dining.
If each semester is meant to feel refreshed, campus dining should reflect that - not just Monday through Friday, but all week long.