After living on campus for four years, I have come to terms with certain realities: I am not able to drive often, I will be largely living among freshmen, and most importantly, I have to find food on or near campus. This last issue seems to be the most difficult for upperclassmen living on campus.

In the past, the dining options were somewhat limited, particularly with breakfast outside of the dining halls. It only took a brief look at the food court to realize that Chick-fil-A was the only real option that students chose, outside of those who woke up early enough for Fresh Foods. Lunch was identical, with Chick-fil-A lines stretching across the room and the other vendors practically empty.

However, that has slowly changed over the past two years. The University and Bama Dining have both taken great steps forward when it comes to dining services. Quality, variety and visibility have improved, and students are taking notice.

Lakeside Dining, which often was overlooked in favor of Fresh Foods or Bryant, has been well worth its price. During the times I have eaten there this year, the food quality has consistently been excellent, with serving sizes larger than previous years. The freshman class, which in previous years acted as a generator for complaints regarding its services, by and large loves eating there.

Since relocating to a much more prominent spot across the food court, Topios has drawn more student attention. Its lines now rival Chick-fil-A, giving students another option in the afternoon.

However, the most noticeable changes have been the new additions to campus. Previously, Buffalo Phil’s occupied the vendor space in the Lakeside Dining building. While it is a good restaurant, I consistently found that people would rather eat off campus or at dining halls in the evenings, limiting the student interest in the place. It was replaced with Dunkin’ Donuts last year, which is considerably more popular. Unlike Buffalo Phil’s, it filled a niche on campus. Students wanted a breakfast and late-night dining place, and the University delivered.

Similarly, the introduction of Fuel smoothies to the Lloyd Hall food court has been an incredible addition. Instead of trying to compete with the Chick-fil-A in the same space, Fuel provides a different option that allows students to eat on the go and have a new set of options to choose from.

On the whole, the University and Bama Dining have dramatically improved the dining options at the Capstone. The quality of dining halls is better, and there are more viable options for non-meal plan dining. As someone who has spent four years on campus, I am definitely glad that they did.

John Brinkerhoff is the Opinion Editor of the Crimson White.