The rumors that spread throughout campus this week claiming that Campus Dining Service was planning to close the dining hall in Afrikan Heritage House are untrue, according to CDS Director Dave Jensen.
"I have no idea why that rumor was out there," he said. "It's just not true. We have made no changes since we opened in the fall."
Students concerned that CDS planned to close the facility started a petition campaign this week, collecting signatures in support of the dining facility.
Deb McNish, interim dean of student life and services, and Yeworkwa Belachew, director of residential life, visited Afrikan Heritage House Tuesday evening to dispel the rumors and discuss the situation with students.
McNish said the rumor may have originated from a miscommunication between CDS and staff. She was also confused, though, "It was peculiar to me," said McNish.
Lord Saunders did suffer a slight problem Friday, when drains backed up, according to Jensen. The problem was fixed, but recurred a few hours later that evening. It has since been repaired.
Jensen said the facility remained open during the entire episode. "We probably should have closed, but we didn't," he said.
Jensen agreed that the rumor was not new. "Over the years that rumor has floated around," he said. Jensen said that while there has been discussion in the past about closing the dining hall, nothing has been discussed recently.
"What really came up is the overall threat students feel about their dining hall," McNish said.
Almost a decade ago, a strategic plan initiated by S. Fred Starr, former College president, targeted closure of the smaller dining halls. "The faculty and students from Lord got enough support to keep the dining hall," McNish said. "But the legacy of that discussion is still on the minds of everybody."
Among student concerns was the fact that Lord Saunders is no longer open on Saturdays, as it had been last year. Michele Gross, assistant director of residential life, said this change was part of an overall change in dining all over campus. She said weekend hours were cut in all dining facilities in response to the fact that students tend to eat fewer meals on campus on weekends.
Copyright © 1998, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 14, February 19, 1998
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