After students demanded later dining hours via social media and good old-fashioned word of mouth, The Reef announced later dining hours starting on Sept. 17.
The Reef will stay open until 11 p.m. Monday through Friday with a shortened menu. After-hour food begins at 8:30 p.m.—the previous closing time—and students cannot pay for Late Night Bites with their meal plans. Students wishing to purchase food after hours will have to pay with Shark Bites, Bull Bucks, cash or credit card.
“The students have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Late night is not in that mix,” said Louis Duran, dining hall director.
Some students are less than pleased.
Freshman Brigitte Toulon, a mass communications major, said she has no plans to eat off the late night menu because it isn’t included in her $1,700 per semester meal plan—the mandatory meal plan for first-year students that amounts to 21 meals a week.
“It’s just annoying because we have to pay an arm and a leg to eat,” said Toulon, adding the plan is unfair because it costs so much in the first place, and because her dorm is equipped with a kitchen.
The contract with Sodexo includes the breakfast, lunch and dinner meal plan. Because this is a 30-day trial, the contract can’t be compromised or negotiated until the center works out what works best.
“We don’t know if there’s as much demand as we’re really hearing,” said Tom Scherberger, the school’s director of communications. The amount of students coming through the USC in the next month will determine if Sodexo keeps late night on the menu for good.
“This is a business they’re running. So, they’re willing to give this a try to see if there’s enough demand to cover their costs and make a profit,” Scherberger said.
Freshman Devin Hansen said the hours don’t always work for her. “I’m on the sailing team, and we meet ‘til 8. We run over in our wet clothes to get a meal in time.”
The late night menu will have fewer options than the usual menu, with The Reef offering hamburgers and fries, as well as items from the deli and pizza station.
Red Mango’s hours will also stretch a bit later, with the frozen yogurt shop staying open until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and closing at 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Photo by Thomas Boyd
