By Jenny Edengard
Staff Writer
During common hour, students flock to Winnick and Hillwood Commons to eat lunch. Finding a seat, and deciding what to eat seem like more complex issues than knowing where to go. Subway, Hillwood Commons Café, and Winnick are the most popular places for students to eat on campus. However, just how popular are they? It seems as though students have their own go-to location on campus, but when it comes to picking out their food, that is another problem.
Anthony Chung, a junior English major, commutes to campus and therefore only eats lunch here.
Photo: Tyler Tarae Hutchins
“I usually end up eating at Subway because I don’t want to go off campus just to get lunch,” Chung said. “Some days I don’t eat, because I get tired of eating the
same thing every day. So I’d rather wait and eat when I get home instead,” Chung said.
Russell Weinstein, a sophomore English major, is a second-year dormer. During his first semester, he ate his meals at Winnick, but now in his second year, he is fed up with their “toxic” food. He explained how students have gotten sick from eating there. This year, he refuses to enter the building and only eats at Hillwood Commons. He is dissatisfied with Aramark, the provider of food on campus. “Get rid of Aramark,” he said.
Other students choose to go off campus to eat lunch. Some popular places near campus are Moe’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King, just down Northern Boulevard.
Rachel Haas, a commuter and junior Design major said she usually brings her own food to school. “The food on campus is expensive and doesn’t taste good. I bring my own food because there are not that many healthy options provided at Winnick or Hillwood Commons.”
Haas said that she doesn’t miss eating every meal at Winnick, as she did last year when she dormed. “I didn’t like their opening hours, because they didn’t work with my schedule, as I had night classes that ended at 11 p.m. By the time I was done with class, Winnick was closed,” she said. “Now that I commute, I can eat a good, nutritious meal at home for dinner, and bring lunch I prepared at home or eat a power bar.”
Keely Burns, a sophomore Art Therapy major, commutes to campus. “I’d go off campus to eat if I knew that I could find a parking spot when I get back,” she said. “I don’t like going back and forth once I’m on campus. I usually eat the crispy tenders at Hillwood Commons.
In fact, it is the only thing I like to eat of the options provided.” Salvatore Ciulla, a sophomore Arts Management major, commutes to campus as well. He eats his lunch at Hillwood Commons. “It’s the same thing every day, the menu is monotonous and never changes,” he said.
The Director of Operations at LIU Post Campus Dining Services, Paul Carroll, is aware of the students’ feedback in which they would like to have more options to choose from.
“Our menus are created by our team of professional and certified chefs and are created based on feedback we receive from students,” Carroll said, explaining that they survey students each semester and use their feedback across their operations. Dining Hall menus are then designed to provide a diverse assortment of food options.
“Over the past few years, we have introduced more new entrees and side dishes, featuring international flavors and more seafood, vegan and vegetarian entrees,” Carroll added.
He urged for students to be patient, explaining that new additions are coming to campus.
“We are also adding some exciting new food venues such as the Pioneer Food Truck that will be driving around campus and for the first time servicing the south campus at Lorber Hall,” Carroll said. “Next year we will be introducing Bleeker Street Café in the Library and a Twisted Taco concept to Hillwood Commons.” When it comes to the handling of food, Carroll said, “The Nassau County Department of Health inspected campus last April and does so annually at approximately the same time each year.” However, students remain unaware of what the outcome of the results from health inspection was, that was performed almost a year ago.
Students seem to crave more options, and to be provided with them a bit sooner, as well as hoping that the new additions would be healthier. Students don’t want to be forced off campus to be able to enjoy a meal. If Post is a great place for students to study, why can’t the food be equally as good? After all, providing students with nutritious meals is the primary factor related to students’ health and is crucial for learning.
If you have any comments on the food at Post, send us an email at liupostpioneer@gmail.com.
Be First to Comment