McMahon remodel fails to change student perceptions

For students who ate in McMahon Dining Hall before the remodeled building opened this semester, the differences are clear.

The new dining hall is about twice the size and boasts many international options on its daily menus. Additionally, there is a multitude of seating arrangements, such as stools that look directly into areas where the food is prepared, as well as smaller tables with wider chairs.

Some students, such as Jennifer Porch, a 3rd-semester communications major, believe that while the new dining hall serves tasty and varied food options, it can be overcrowded.

“I think the food is better than other places, and I really like how they give you portions,” said Porch. “The only thing is that the lines get way too long. Unless you get there at the start of each meal, it is not worth going across campus for it.”

Another common complaint about McMahon Dining Hall is that there are no trays available for students to carry multiple plates at once. Therefore, it is necessary to make more than one trip to the food lines. However, the tray problem is not new to the new dining hall set up- in fact, the old McMahon Dining Hall did not have trays available either.

“The lack of trays is inconvenient,” said Byron Bunda, a 5th-semester management major. “But McMahon has never had trays. It’s just not set up for it.”

Others students complain they haven’t seen much improvement.

“As a former resident of West campus, I was disappointed to be moving after the renovation of McMahon was announced,” said Emily Collins, a 7th-semester sociology major. “I usually avoided McMahon because the food was just bland, but figured that would change with the new renovation. I went with my friends a few times and it’s aesthetically pleasing, but that’s about it. The menu it offers isn’t any better or worse than what it used to be. Needless to say I was unimpressed.”

Despite the complaints, a fair share of students are generally excited about McMahon Dining Hall and its selection.

“The food is awesome,” said Bunda. “It’s constantly changing and it’s all international. It’s something completely different from what the other dining halls serve.”