Methods and What We Would Have Done Next Time

We went about conducting the blog first by agreeing upon an issue we all felt strongly about on campus. We all had different feelings about the C4C and thought it would be interesting to compare what other people thought across campus. We thought this would be important to look into because the C4C has been such a large addition to our campus. We began by finding basic information on the C4C from housing and dining websites. We also took pictures of the dining hall in order to visually communicate to our audience its features.

We chose our sources based on their demographic. An upperclassmen's point of view would be key in seeing the necessity of having built it and what they thought it compared to previous years' choices. A freshmen does not have past years to compare to and might base their opinion solely on food quality. Freshmen are also the group of students who eat at the dining halls most often, so it is important to understand the choices they face when eating every single day. An RA gives a combination of both. They have the experience of eating in the dining halls in previous years but also have to eat there everyday. Sierra has a pending interview with the Corrdinator of Facilities at the C4C and Christina has a pending interview with an office worker from Housing and Dining Services. These two interviews will give insight into the human aspect of the building. For example, do kids give positive feedback, was research conducted to see what kids wanted out of the building, do other parts of the building get put to good use, etc.

Next time, we would like to have taken viedo footage of the dining hall. A video of what getting dinner is like at the C4C would give audiences a first hand account on what the crowds are like, how the stations physically work, and how large the building truly is.

A Conclusion of Our Findings

After conducting surveys and interviews, we have come to the following conclusion. It seems as though the majority of upperclassmen, or atleast upperclassmen that do not regularly eat at the dining halls, are very impressed by the new Center for Community. However, as was evident from the responses we received from freshmen, all new things lose their luster after awhile. Upperclassmen felt pangs of jealousy as freshmen got to use the new building. The reason that the C4C seems so popular is that the building is new and many upperclassmen thought it had the most variety and the best tasting food. While it is true that the C4C has many options, due to the fact that students can choose food from different stations, the menus at the other dining halls change every night. Freshmen found that the C4C did not have variety because of this reason. Also, freshmen preferred the convenience of eating at dining halls that are closer to their dorms once the excitement died down. For example, many freshmen surveyed in Sewall preferred to eat there because it was so close for them. Many students also found that the amount of money spent to build the C4C was outrageous and could have been used in other ways to improve the campus.

However, it is also important to recognize opinions besides the students. Gerry Prete, a cook at the C4C, thought the dining hall was a positive addition to the campus because the stations allowed for more interaction amongst students and workers. Freshmen should also consider the fact that a lack of variety may also correspond to the fact that the dining hall is new. As workers get more comfortable with how the new dining hall will run, menus will change just like they do at the other dining halls.

Further, as our background research shows, the C4C is home to more than just a dining hall. Many student groups on campus have offices in the building. While there are mixed feelings on the building, the combination of foods inspired from different parts of the world and as a center for student services does seem to make it in theory a "center for community." It does get the seal of approval for ambience, amount of choices, and predictability. It does lack diversity at each station, an overall feeling of being a cost effective choice for CU, and upperclassmen feelings on being leftout from the excitement. It seems it isn't everybody's cup of tea. Try it out for yourself, and see if you think the C4C is really all that.