Pictured Above: New dining hall to open in the spring semester in Osprey Suites.
Courtesy of Cassidy Schuck
By Sophie Ojdanic
The new dining hall being built in Osprey Suites is “still on track to open” in time for the spring semester, according to housing director Susan Kimbrough.
Aramark, USF St. Petersburg’s new dining provider, has been operating out of The Reef, which serves as the dining hall in the University Student Center.
The Reef has been renovated to include additional spaces for students to purchase grab-and-go items like sushi, chips, microwave dinners and bottled drinks.
A new swipe system that has been put in place for dining has also come under criticism.
“The swipes system is effective, but it should include all items in The Reef,” junior health sciences major Basia Kuehn said.
As of right now, a main course, side item and beverage counts as a swipe, while every other food item is paid for using Bull Bucks or Dining Dollars.
Despite the change from Sodexo to Aramark, students are still not satisfied with the dining hall’s offerings.
Kuehn was one such student.
“I hate the food,” Kuehn said. “There is little variety and limited options for healthy meals.”
Kuehn said she was excited for the new dining hall.
“Hopefully we will have more options available to us,” she said.
