Who: Ryan Coe
Major: Business
Year: Junior
I decided to see what an upperclassman's point of view on the C4C would be, so I asked my neighbor what his feelings are.
Me: Have you eaten at the new C4C yet?
Ryan: I've eaten at the cafe, not the dining hall.
Me: I ate at the dining hall once. I thought it was so much better than what we had last year. How do you feel about not being able to use the C4C like all the freshman can as part of their meal plan?
Ryan: I'm pissed! I think that it's pretty unfair. It's bull---.
Me: Was building the C4C a wise use of CU's money?
Ryan: Not really.
Me: What else could we have put the money towards instead?
Ryan: Improving the rec center. I know that they have plans for reconstruction, but my year definitely won't be able to use it by the time they finish it. They should have started it instead of the C4C.
Me: Would you consider buying a meal plan for the C4C?
Ryan: Probably not.
Me: Why not?
Ryan: Because I live off campus, I buy my own food. Well, maybe I'd get a 5 meals a week plan.
Me: What else could improve the building to encourage upperclassman use?
Ryan: Maybe some more sweet study space. I'd definitely go if there were cool study rooms.
Who: Juergen Friese
Position: Coordinator for Dining Facilities
Me: How long have you worked at the CU dining services for?
JF: 21 years
Me: What do you think the general student feelings are towards the C4C?
JF: Very positive. There is a strong sense of community since the building is used in so many different ways. Besides the student services offered, there are some very cool common spaces for student to hang out and study. The dining center is not only open to first year students living in Housing, but also the larger community. Munch Money, Campus cash and credit cards are accepted to allow the entire campus community to enjoy a meal.
Me. Is the C4C cost-affective? For instance, is the big price tag paying off in terms of use and positive feedback?
JF: I believe it is, especially since the building is funded through a combination of revenues from auxiliaries such as dining, parking services, and private donations.
The Center for Community has emerged as a critical part of the university’s strategic plan, Flagship 2030, which reflects the value we place on preparing students with a foundation of cultural knowledge, intercultural understanding, and community engagement.
In addition to the many potential CU donors that have toured the building, we have seen a strong interest from other Universities and institutions.
Me: Did the dining services team conduct research to see what students would like in the C4C before its construction?
JF: Yes. Many campus-wide focus groups allowed ample opportunities for input. We also contacted and visited many other Colleges and Universities about some of their recent projects to find out what works well for a campus community.
Me: Is there room for future improvements in terms of CU’s budget and the building’s space?
JF: We are always happy to hear suggestions on potential improvements.
Me: Do you believe that student use will go down once all the hype of the newness of the building fades?
JF: There will certainly be some fluctuation. Many factors play into the decision where to eat. Proximity to living quarters and/or work place; weather, available time; gathering with friends; type of meal expected (natural/organic, grab n’ go, sit down meal); variety of meal choices.
Overall, I expect that the Center for Community will remain a busy hub for many years to come.
Me: One last question. Have you tried the food there or do you regularly eat there? What’s your opinion on the food?
JF: I eat at C4C several times a week, partly because my office is in this building. As a trained chef, I have high expectations of all our dining centers and I continue to enjoy seeing how our food has evolved over the years. The various venues at C4C are doing an outstanding job keeping the food choices fresh and true to the recipes.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
2 freshmen, 2 opinions
Christina's Interview
After I conducted my survey at Sewall, I decided to interview a couple of the people who participated with different opinions. Christina Ganoe, a freshmen living at Sewall, prefers to eat at the C4C while Alex Foley, another Sewall resident prefers to eat in her residential dining hall. Here are some reasons why:
Interview with Christina Ganoe:
Overall, what do you think about the dining halls in the dorms?
The dining halls have good food, but need more variety and fresh vegetables and fruit.
How often do you go to the C4C for dinner?
I go to the C4C about once or twice a week.
Which do you prefer and why?
I prefer the C4C because of all the variety, the only reason I eat at Sewall so much is the convenience.
Do you find more variety and options at the C4C or in the dorms?
I find more variety and options at the C4C.
What is your opinion of grab and gos compared to dining halls?
I love the grab and gos. It’s nice to be able to get something on the run but I would prefer them to be open on the weekends too. I think the weekends are when I would go there the most. The only grab n’ go that is open on the weekend is the Emporium at Farrand and I’m not sure I can even use my meal plan there, I usually use my munch money.
Do you think your location has to do with where you eat?
Yeah because I eat at Sewall everyday but when I feel like walking and the weather is nice I will go to the C4C. I’m just not looking forward to the winter because I think that I’ll go there a lot less when it is freezing out with snow on the ground.
If you lived closer to the C4C would you only eat there?
Absolutely, if I lived closer to the C4C I would only eat there.
Do you pick specific meals to eat at certain dining halls?
Not really, I change it up a little depending on what looks good to me at the time.
Overall, where is your favorite place to eat?
My favorite place to eat is the C4C. I find that even their grab n’ go has more options for me to choose from.
Interview with Alex Foley:
Overall, what do you think about the dining halls in the dorms?
They are good. I like that there are different meals everyday and different things to choose from.
How often do you go to the C4C for dinner?
Maybe once a month. I’ll only go if the weather is nice but most of the time I’m not in the mood to walk that far when I like Sewall just as much.
Which do you prefer and why?
I prefer the other dining halls because they serve something different every day. They’re also really close and I like how the specialize in one meal every night and they have new things all the time.
Do you find more variety and options at the C4C or in the dorms?
Probably the C4C because they have every type of food for every meal.
What is your opinion of grab and go’s?
I love them. Sometimes I prefer them to the dining halls just because they are so quick. They’re great if you have to eat in a hurry.
Do you think your location has to do with where you eat?
Yes, I do not like to leave the dorm when it is cold out. I would go to the C4C a lot more in the summer or beginning of the year when it was hot outside because I didn’t mind walking as much.
If you lived closer to the C4C would you only eat there?
Yes because I do not like to go too far to have to get dinner.
Do you pick specific meals to eat at certain dining halls?
No, I usually eat whatever they are serving. But at the C4C I usually eat the Asian food.
Overall, where is your favorite place to eat?
Sewall or Libby
Overall, Christina prefers to eat in the C4C because she finds that there is more variety there and the food is better. She really only seems to eat at Sewall if she has to because it is so close. Alex, however, prefers to eat in Sewall because she likes how convenient it is to go to and she finds that they have different foods every night.
After I conducted my survey at Sewall, I decided to interview a couple of the people who participated with different opinions. Christina Ganoe, a freshmen living at Sewall, prefers to eat at the C4C while Alex Foley, another Sewall resident prefers to eat in her residential dining hall. Here are some reasons why:
Interview with Christina Ganoe:
Overall, what do you think about the dining halls in the dorms?
The dining halls have good food, but need more variety and fresh vegetables and fruit.
How often do you go to the C4C for dinner?
I go to the C4C about once or twice a week.
Which do you prefer and why?
I prefer the C4C because of all the variety, the only reason I eat at Sewall so much is the convenience.
Do you find more variety and options at the C4C or in the dorms?
I find more variety and options at the C4C.
What is your opinion of grab and gos compared to dining halls?
I love the grab and gos. It’s nice to be able to get something on the run but I would prefer them to be open on the weekends too. I think the weekends are when I would go there the most. The only grab n’ go that is open on the weekend is the Emporium at Farrand and I’m not sure I can even use my meal plan there, I usually use my munch money.
Do you think your location has to do with where you eat?
Yeah because I eat at Sewall everyday but when I feel like walking and the weather is nice I will go to the C4C. I’m just not looking forward to the winter because I think that I’ll go there a lot less when it is freezing out with snow on the ground.
If you lived closer to the C4C would you only eat there?
Absolutely, if I lived closer to the C4C I would only eat there.
Do you pick specific meals to eat at certain dining halls?
Not really, I change it up a little depending on what looks good to me at the time.
Overall, where is your favorite place to eat?
My favorite place to eat is the C4C. I find that even their grab n’ go has more options for me to choose from.
Interview with Alex Foley:
Overall, what do you think about the dining halls in the dorms?
They are good. I like that there are different meals everyday and different things to choose from.
How often do you go to the C4C for dinner?
Maybe once a month. I’ll only go if the weather is nice but most of the time I’m not in the mood to walk that far when I like Sewall just as much.
Which do you prefer and why?
I prefer the other dining halls because they serve something different every day. They’re also really close and I like how the specialize in one meal every night and they have new things all the time.
Do you find more variety and options at the C4C or in the dorms?
Probably the C4C because they have every type of food for every meal.
What is your opinion of grab and go’s?
I love them. Sometimes I prefer them to the dining halls just because they are so quick. They’re great if you have to eat in a hurry.
Do you think your location has to do with where you eat?
Yes, I do not like to leave the dorm when it is cold out. I would go to the C4C a lot more in the summer or beginning of the year when it was hot outside because I didn’t mind walking as much.
If you lived closer to the C4C would you only eat there?
Yes because I do not like to go too far to have to get dinner.
Do you pick specific meals to eat at certain dining halls?
No, I usually eat whatever they are serving. But at the C4C I usually eat the Asian food.
Overall, where is your favorite place to eat?
Sewall or Libby
Overall, Christina prefers to eat in the C4C because she finds that there is more variety there and the food is better. She really only seems to eat at Sewall if she has to because it is so close. Alex, however, prefers to eat in Sewall because she likes how convenient it is to go to and she finds that they have different foods every night.
The C4C: "A Fresh Take on the Dining Hall Experience"
Allison's Interview with a C4C Cook
Today, I interviewed one of the cooks who works at the new dining hall at the Center for Community. His name is Gerry Prete, 34, and he cooks at the Kosher station. I wanted to find out how he liked working at the C4C. Specifically, how did having "stations" and live chefs change his experience of working at the dining hall. Here is how the interview went:
A: How do you think the food at the C4C compares to the other dining halls on campus?
G: It's a step up from the other dining facilities.
A: Is all the food at the different stations cooked daily?
G: I can't speak for all the stations, but I would say that it is about 50/50, half pre-made and half fresh. At the Kosher station, the soups are pre-made. So are the latkas and perogies.
A: What do you like most about the live cooking stations? Do they allow for a lot of interaction with the students?
G: I have sauteed at the Italian Cibo station, and besides burning my hand, I really liked it. There is more interaction with the students rather than just handing them their food. At the Kosher station, we serve them instead of them serving themselves.
A: How often are items on the menu changed? How do you decide what you will cook everyday?
G: The goal is by next semester to be on a 5-week schedule. (I asked Gerry what this meant and he said that every week there would be a new menu and after the fifth week the menu starts back to the beginning). Since it is a new dining hall, though, we are only on a 2-week schedule as opposed to the other dining halls on campus. The problem is, we can't switch the menus until every station is ready to do so. I would say by next year we will be on the 5-week schedule and there will be more of a variety of foods at the C4C.
A: Were you a trained chef or did you learn your techniques upon arrival?
G: I have had 15 years of experience working in restaurants and I also learned some things here.
A: Do you like working at a restaurant or at the dining hall better?
G: The dining hall. It's simpler.
A: Do you ever eat at the C4C?
G: Everyday.
A: What do you like about it? What is your favorite station?
G: The italian station and the grill. Having this new building is exciting. The ambience of the new place is cool.
A: Do you think this dining hall has been a positive addition to the CU campus?
G: Definitely. It breaks away from the normal dining hall monotony. Buffet lines are a thing of the past. It gives it a fresh take on the dining hall experience.
Gerry did recognize that by the end of the semester everyone grows sick of the food, and that towards the end of the year he starts to make more and more sandwiches rather than eating the food served at the stations. However, overall Gerry expressed a very positive attitude over the dining hall, both food and atmosphere.
Today, I interviewed one of the cooks who works at the new dining hall at the Center for Community. His name is Gerry Prete, 34, and he cooks at the Kosher station. I wanted to find out how he liked working at the C4C. Specifically, how did having "stations" and live chefs change his experience of working at the dining hall. Here is how the interview went:
A: How do you think the food at the C4C compares to the other dining halls on campus?
G: It's a step up from the other dining facilities.
A: Is all the food at the different stations cooked daily?
G: I can't speak for all the stations, but I would say that it is about 50/50, half pre-made and half fresh. At the Kosher station, the soups are pre-made. So are the latkas and perogies.
A: What do you like most about the live cooking stations? Do they allow for a lot of interaction with the students?
G: I have sauteed at the Italian Cibo station, and besides burning my hand, I really liked it. There is more interaction with the students rather than just handing them their food. At the Kosher station, we serve them instead of them serving themselves.
A: How often are items on the menu changed? How do you decide what you will cook everyday?
G: The goal is by next semester to be on a 5-week schedule. (I asked Gerry what this meant and he said that every week there would be a new menu and after the fifth week the menu starts back to the beginning). Since it is a new dining hall, though, we are only on a 2-week schedule as opposed to the other dining halls on campus. The problem is, we can't switch the menus until every station is ready to do so. I would say by next year we will be on the 5-week schedule and there will be more of a variety of foods at the C4C.
A: Were you a trained chef or did you learn your techniques upon arrival?
G: I have had 15 years of experience working in restaurants and I also learned some things here.
A: Do you like working at a restaurant or at the dining hall better?
G: The dining hall. It's simpler.
A: Do you ever eat at the C4C?
G: Everyday.
A: What do you like about it? What is your favorite station?
G: The italian station and the grill. Having this new building is exciting. The ambience of the new place is cool.
A: Do you think this dining hall has been a positive addition to the CU campus?
G: Definitely. It breaks away from the normal dining hall monotony. Buffet lines are a thing of the past. It gives it a fresh take on the dining hall experience.
Gerry did recognize that by the end of the semester everyone grows sick of the food, and that towards the end of the year he starts to make more and more sandwiches rather than eating the food served at the stations. However, overall Gerry expressed a very positive attitude over the dining hall, both food and atmosphere.
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