It’s midweek and there are only 20 minutes to grab lunch between classes. For many students, the tough reality of the situation is that there is simply not enough time to eat on campus given this time constraint.  In past years, students were able to go straight from classes to the Ferg and grab something to eat, all in under 30 minutes. This year, due to the remodeling of the Ferg, things have changed. 

Before the remodel there were nine dining options in the Ferg, 10 if you include Fresh Foods (not including Fresh2Go options). Lines were never very long; there were options to eat something different each day of the week; service was quick since most places allowed students to grab food and pay at a separate register.

Now, there are only five places to eat a meal in the Ferg, not including Fresh2Go or Auntie Anne’s, since pretzels can hardly be considered a meal. The restaurants in the Ferg are more high-profile this year, with the very popular Panda Express and the full-service Chick-fil-a, but the larger locations may not be an equal trade-off for fewer options. With fewer food options, lines during peak lunch hours anytime from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. are incredibly long, making it impossible to grab a bite to eat between classes. 

In addition to the new 40-minute wait for lunch, there are no longer any truly healthy options available in the Ferg. Many of the chains boast their healthy options. Chick-fil-a and Wendy’s offer processed ingredients in their salads, but are not a worthy replacement for the full salad and soup bar the Ferg used to boast. Last week, the endless line at Chick-fil-a was held up by a student trying to find something that fit her strict dietary constraints. With the increase in vegetarian diets and gluten intolerances among students, having more easily accessible options for students is a necessity.

Students that have tight class schedules may have to retire their Dining Dollars, give up dreams of Chick-fil-a milkshakes every day and start packing a lunch to enjoy on the Quad, where there are never any lines.