Thursday, January 15, 1998
One less place for students to eat on the hill
DORMS: Sproul shuts down its dining services, leaving many
students even more frustrated
By Scot Sargeant
Daily Bruin Contributor
Due to the reopening of the Hedrick dining hall on Monday,
students might think that there are more dining options.
These students, however, would be mistaken. Beginning this
quarter, students have lost the Sproul facility, upsetting many
students.
Although Hedrick has a larger capacity than Sproul, the closure
has discommoded students.
"The loss of our own dining facility is inconvenient because now
we have no choice but to go to other dorms to eat," said Chris
Yamada, a first-year business economics student.
Dykstra’s closure in the middle of the fall quarter left
residents without their own cafeteria, forcing them to hike up to
dining facilities higher on the hill. Now, Sproul residents too
must contend with the loss of their cafeteria.
"We can no longer hold large group dinners, because the other
facilities are so crowded," said Sheree Shoots, a first-year
undeclared student.
Sproul’s closure prompts many students to question why so many
cafeteria closures are occurring.
"I don’t understand why they are closing down Sproul. There will
be fewer jobs for students, and it leaves us with fewer places to
eat," said Adrian Ramirez, a first-year undeclared student.
It seems that Sproul Hall closed at the end of fall quarter
because not many students chose to eat there.
Dykstra was closed to make way for the De Neve Plaza project,
which has caused parts of De Neve and Circle Drive to close.
The plaza will provide new dining facilities, living residences,
and social gathering points for students.
The opening of Hedrick Hall’s dining facility last Monday proved
popular as students filled the cafeteria throughout dining periods.
Hedrick, which closed in early 1997, provides a new convenience for
students living at the top of the hill.
"It’s great having our own dining hall now. It makes life easier
and more convenient," said Erica Lenowsky, a first-year undeclared
Hedrick resident.
In mid-February, Dykstra residents will be able to eat at a new
cafe in the Tom Bradley International Center, according to April
White, Dykstra Hall Construction mitigater.
Sproul Hall is slated to be renovated in the same vein as Rieber
and Hedrick.
Although there are complaints of the closing of the Sproul
dining hall, there are many students in Sproul, who are already
used to not eating in their cafeteria. "Actually, I never went to
Sproul anyway. The food wasn’t as good as in the other halls," said
Jamie Moriyama, a first-year undeclared student.
Students of Sproul and Dykstra further expressed disdain over
the inconveniences presented at breakfast.
"I think Dykstra got double-whammied on this, because we have no
dining hall, and we must walk further than anyone else to get to
another one," said Maria Talag, a first year undeclared
student.
"It takes me longer to get to a dining hall than it takes me to
get to my Global-Environment class," she continued.
No dates were given for reopening Sproul or Dykstra’s dining
facilities.