by George Smith, Student Reporter
The Coronado Café reduced its seating by half this semester to allow for social distancing, and workers are trying to keep the number of dine-in eaters below the new seating limit.
Cafeteria officials introduced a to-go option this semester for students to take their food from the cafeteria to wherever they so choose. It was initially intended to keep the total number of students in the cafeteria at one time below the reduced occupancy limit, according to Tully Groom, a chef manager for Chartwells, the company that operates the university’s cafeteria.
“The university and Chartwells agreed that students would use the option of to-go boxes to take their meals elsewhere in order to keep their social distance,” Groom said. “Seating was limited by half, from about 300 to about 150, and the to-go boxes were supposed to help keep the number of students in the cafeteria at one time below that 150 mark.”
Students are urged to take their to-go orders out of the cafeteria by two signs at the check-in desk that state: “In order to provide the best dining experience for all of our guests, we ask that, if you choose to get your meal in a to-go box, that you take the meal to-go and do not use it for dining in.”
Groom said the to-go option will end after pandemic restrictions are lifted.
There are consequential actions that can be taken against students caught using their to-go boxes to eat in the cafeteria.
Students who do not comply with the policy may have to pay a fine between $25 and $100. They may also be suspended from eating at the cafeteria for up to two weeks.
According to Matt Adair, the assistant dean of student affairs, those fines and suspensions are meant to be possible deterrents. The overall agenda of the to-go boxes is to allow for social distancing.
Students have varied opinions about the issue.
Freshman history major Rebecca Wagner said: “It’s good if you’re in a rush you have that ability to take your food to-go, but why does it matter if you eat with a Styrofoam plate in [the cafeteria] here?”
Junior political science major Tyler Gregory said: “I feel like it doesn’t matter. It’s unimportant, whether you have a Styrofoam cup or a Styrofoam plate, why you can’t eat and drink in here just the same. It’s one less plate that they have to wash back there.”
Junior nursing major Gina Wilson suggested that some students may intentionally break the rule.
“Once the rule is set, people will be rebellious,” she said. “They may continue not to listen and continue eating in the cafeteria out of the to-go boxes.”
Senior biology major Jessalyn Rivet-Tissot said: “If they tell you not to do it, I don’t see the difference. Just don’t do it.”