Dining survey seeks student input

Jamison Lamp

Jamison Lamp

SDSU students can now share their opinions about the possible dining expansion. A survey started Tuesday, Jan. 20 and will be available through Friday, Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on The Union’s Main Street.

The survey looks at such things as atmosphere, extended hours, meal offerings and non-food retail spaces. For example, one question asks, “What type of atmosphere would you prefer when considering a new dining concept in The Union?” Some answers include: Coffee Shop (intimate, sit-down atmosphere), Fast Food, Fast Casual and Sit-Down Dining, but students can provide their own ideas.

“Fill in the “Other” box; we know we haven’t thought of everything,” said Jennifer Novotny, director of The Union. “We would like to come up with some common themes.”

At the Dec. 18, 2008 meeting of the South Dakota Board of Regents, board members said that SDSU can continue planning its dining services expansion but funding for the project will have to be approved at the April meeting.

If approved, the expansion would take place on the northwest side of The Union and would be funded without raising student fees.

“Meeting the needs of the students is important to keep The Union feeling more like their living room,” Novotny said.