The ESU Ballroom is one the several inaccessible areas in the Memorial Union. Phase one of the construction in the Union should be completed by mid-February. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

When Molly Campbell, senior elementary education student, went to pick up her course packet from the bookstore in the Memorial Union, the main street tunnel was blocked, so she had to go through the temporary tunnel opened up on the second floor.

“I think it’s good because we’re going to have a better union overall,” Campbell said. “In the meantime right now, it’s kind of inconvenient to have to go up those stairs to get around to the front side. The bad thing is now we have to do this when it’s winter. It’s cold, so you don’t want to walk outside.”

Most of the renovations are on the main street, which will be the center for student involvement and the lounge area. The area should be open about the middle of February, said Dave Hendricks, director of the MU.

“The most difficult thing has been and continues to be to work through the phasing of the project and make sure that we can still provide the students with the services that we traditionally provide. One challenge is access,” Hendricks said.

On the lower level of the west side, the Office of International Education has already settled in, and Career Services will move over through the end of January.

“I like our new office,” said Harry Imbeau, director of international student education and scholar services. “In our old office, they used to be on the other side of the union, near the mail room. We didn’t have any windows, so we could never see outside. So being in a space where we can see outside is really nice.”

Only the north entrance is open, which is the quickest way in for students living in the Towers Complex.

“We are actually incorporating phase two with phase one,” Hendricks said. “When we finish the first floor, that really completes the phase one part of the project, and then that only leaves the phase two which should be completed by May.”

Associated Student Government and student publications on the third floor will be opened up as soon as the stairs and handrail are finished within a month. A celebration is scheduled on Feb. 14 for the opening of the main street, OIE and Career Services.

TIANHAI JIANG

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Physical Plant workers Bruce Love(right) and Dick Weatherholt(left) unload landscaping stones on the east side of the Memorial Union Tuesday afternoon.

Weatherholt designed and is implementing the landscaping as part of their contribution to the Union remodel.

The stones were trucked in from Pyramid Stones Quarry near Olpe and weigh a little over one ton.

John Henningsen/The Bulletin

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With a new cafeteria in the Memorial Union also come higher meal prices. Students now pay about 2 percent more per meal than they paid last year, and some find the price too high.

“It’s expensive,” said Craig Gilmore, junior accounting major. “I consider the lunch to be overpriced.”

But even though some students feel the price of food in the cafeteria is high, many continue to eat there.

Amanda Crabtree, freshman history education major, said she does not think the food is worth the price, but since she does not have a car, it is more convenient for her to eat on campus in the cafeteria.

“For the food that’s there, (the price) doesn’t seem right,” Crabtree said. “The variety could be larger and different from day-to-day – it could be changed up a little bit.”

Crabtree also said that she does not have to worry about food spoiling or finding proper storage in her dorm room because she eats in the cafeteria.

Emporia State offers three meal plan options – the 10-Block, consisting of ten meals a week for $2,610 per year; the 15-Block for $3,030 per year; and the All Access for $3,110 per year.

Last year, the 10-block plan cost $2,560; the 15-Block was $2,970; and the All Access plan was $3,050.

But Dave Hendricks, director of the Memorial Union, said that the increase in meal price happens every year, regardless of renovations.

The school must pay Sodexo, the company that handles all of ESU’s dining services, a per meal price. Each year a new rate is negotiated.

“Our goal is always to keep (prices) as low as possible,” Hendricks said.

Along with a price raise in meal plans, the cash rate for a single meal in the cafeteria was also increased. Hendricks said that previously this rate was $4, $5 and $6 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This rate is now at $6, $8, and $7, respectively.

Hendricks said with the renovations, the space has also become a better dining environment and there are now more food offerings.

“The spaces in the Union have far exceeded my expectations as far as the renovations,” Hendricks said.

While Gilmore said he does not choose to purchase a meal plan, he has eaten in the renovated cafeteria a few times and said that he thought it was better than the Kanza room, where the cafeteria was held during renovations.

Executive chef Saiket “Johny” Patwary said the increase in prices benefits both sides, since the cafeteria can now offer more varieties of better quality food. Patwary said the cafeteria now provides several food stations including the Grill with cheeseburgers and french fries, Classic with an entrée, a sandwich and salad bar, all day omelet and cereal stations, a pizza and pasta bar, a large waffle station and a variety of desserts.

Hendricks said that the cafeteria is the largest source of revenue for the union, and the increase in meal price helps fund different programs and keeps the operating fees, which every student pays separately, low.

Those without meal plans can save 10 percent on their purchases by putting money on their Hornet card, according to Hendricks and Patwary.

For those on the run, the cafeteria offers a “take-out” option. Students can ask for a to-go box and cup when they pay and then fill up on lunch and quickly head to work or class.

But students are not allowed to bring in outside food. Patwary said that this is due to health and safety precautions and is outlined in Sodexo’s contract.

Students are also not allowed to take additional food items out of the dining hall, such as a cookie or an apple. This provision is to prevent food illness, according to Patwary.

The agreement ESU currently has with Sodexo is up for renewal in 2019. Currently, their agreement says that Sodexo will be the official food service provider for the Union and that no events on campus can be catered by an outside company.

Brooke Schultz

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Linda Sharples, a cook at the Hornet’s Nest, prepares samples of omelets during the cafeteria’s grand opening Wednesday afternoon. The special event offered free bites of various meals the Hornet’s Nest serves. Megan Gartner/The Bulletin

Before the recent renovations on Emporia State’s cafeteria in the Memorial Union, “inefficient” was a prominent word used to describe the dining hall. But The Hornets’ Nest has had a complete makeover.

“We were trying to do a 2010 system in a 1998 space,” said Dave Hendricks, Memorial Union director.

But now students and faculty can move through the cafeteria more quickly. With only 300 available seats and hundreds of hungry students, speed is a necessity. 

“We really wanted to separate stations throughout the space to eliminate long lines,” Hendricks said.

The mission seems to be accomplished, Hendricks said. Not only is this new set-up time efficient but it also allows for hungry patrons to see their food being made as well as interact with the staff who make it.

“We have a good and caring production team who love interacting with students,” Hendricks said.

At Wednesday’s grand opening, students seemed to appreciate the cafeteria’s new layout.

“It’s a 1000 times better,” said Rachel Marshall, sophomore secondary education major.

Paige Moeder, sophomore undecided major, said she like the change.

“I think it’s really modern and classy,” Moeder said, “I love the windows.”

Another difference is the menu. Executive Chef Saiket “Johny” Patwary wanted the new menu to be healthier than before.

“I’m trying to educate students on what they are eating,” Patwary said.

He is also trying to help students with allergens by creating meals that are safe for them to consume. The stations consist of the grill, pizza and pasta, classics, breakfast, salad and sandwiches, as well as old favorites like rice and omelets.

The grand opening on Wednesday not only offered students and faculty a taste of the new food, but also a chance to win prizes donated by businesses around Emporia, including an iPod nano, a 21-speed mountain bike and smaller door prizes from the Memorial Union Bookstore, Genesis Health Club, Midas Touch Golden Tans and Caribbean Sun Tanning Salon.           

The renovations on the lower level of the Union are expected to be finished as early as Thanksgiving. These renovations include the new offices for Career Services and International Education as well as an entrance to the Hornets’ Nest for the residents of The Towers complex.       Hendricks said that the entire Union is scheduled to be completed by April 2012.

Khaili Scarbrough

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The newly remodeled Webb Lecture Hall features wood floors, a new sound system and a new projection system. Chris Franklin/ The Bulletin

While students work towards finals week, constant changes are taking place in the Memorial Union as renovations continue.

“For the union, it really is a complete makeover,” said Dave Hendricks, director of the Memorial Union. “We are finally more energy efficient and for the university as a whole, what we are trying to do is to create a front door, a welcome center for the campus.”

The west side of the union will be completed this week and its final inspection is tomorrow afternoon.

“The ID office, the scheduling office, catering office and IT office have been in four separate locations throughout the building for years,” Hendricks said. “When we move into the new space, all of the services offered will be in one location. It will be more efficient for the students and allow us some redundancy so that we can cross-train employees.”

Hendricks said the dining hall will be completed in early August. Work is currently being done on the heating, electric and water lines as well as the air conditioning system.

Although it was still under construction, the Greek Banquet was the first event held in the partially renovated Webb Lecture Hall.

“Because of (the contractors’) extra efforts, we were able to host the Greek Banquet, which was very important in a lot of reasons,” Hendricks said. “One is to complete the cycle from old to new. Also it’s a small token to say ‘thank you’ for the campus as a whole.”

Hendricks said to ensure that the event ran smoothly, the union staff had to make sure the fire alarm and life safety systems were working and blocked off all the construction zones.

“(Webb Hall) is definitely more modern,” said Brent McCoy, junior secondary education major. “It looks more lively. Hopefully it will be a place with a lot more events and better-utilized space.”

Hendricks said the renovation project should be finished between April and June next year.

“If I were a new prospective student, I’d be more willing to come to ESU seeing (the renovated union),” said Heather McCoy, sophomore history major. “Compared to the rest of the campus, it is the prettiest. It is like the diamond of the school now.”

Huibing Lu

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Janzen Maring, freshman biology major, and Tabitha Keast, freshman elementary education/pre-law major, eat lunch Monday afternoon in the Memorial Union Cafeteria. Alissa Miller/ The Bulletin

A website that will include nutritional facts for the cafeteria’s menu is currently underway as the Sodexo staff are working on making the information available for students online sometime after Spring Break.

“We are coming up with a website where students can get a hold of all the menus with the nutrition information,” said Saiket “Johnny” Patwary, Emporia State’s executive chef. “Our goal is to have it by the first of April.”
Patwary said that the tentative menu for the cafeteria is available on ESU’s website, but it does not include nutritional information.

But Patwary said the cafeteria is making an effort to serve healthier meals.

“The cafeteria is very nutritious,” Patwary said. “We are actually coming up with new recipes and more nutritional information for the students.”

Patwary said that students should also be aware that if they have a limit on the number of calories they can intake per day, they should contact him and he will help them determine what they can eat. The same help is available for those with allergies to peanuts, gluten and certain spices.
“We currently have four students that are allergic to gluten, so I do my best to come up with substitute menus and ideas for them,” Patwary said.

The cafeteria was forced to move its location to a smaller facility after Winter Break due to renovations in Memorial Union, and as a result, several students created a petition aimed at granting students a partial refund for their meal plans.

Although the petition was unsuccessful, students are still questioning the quality of food being served, particularly in regards to the nutritional value of meal options.

“(The food) has definitely improved, but for the money we pay I think we should get a better variety of nutritious food that tastes better,” said Angelica Mays, freshman elementary education major.

Currently, there are three meal plans. The cost of “All Access” is $3,050 for one year, the “15 Block” plan is $2,970 and the “10 Block” plan is $2,560.
Dave Hendricks, director of the Memorial Union, said that there will be a 1.98 percent increase in next year’s meal plans. Sodexo will receive 1.9 percent of the increase and the Union will receive the remaining .08 percent.
“The main reason is because the cost of doing business increases,” Hendricks said. “Our goal is to keep the retail rate, which is what the students pay, at its lowest possible.”
The agreement ESU currently has with Sodexo is up for renewal in 2019, Hendricks said. Currently, their agreement says that Sodexo will be the official food service provider for the Union and that no events on campus can be catered by an outside company.
“Because it’s on a college campus, I think people sometimes forget that it is still a business,” Hendricks said.

Samantha Jones

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Construction continues in Webb Lecture Hall as lighting is installed Wednesday in the Memorial Union. Construction on the east side of the building is scheduled to be completed by the end of Spring Break. Courtesy Photo by Roger Heineken

As the renovation of the Memorial Union continues, students are curious about what exactly goes on behind the covered windows and temporary walls.

“Every time I go by the Union, I’ll kind of poke my head around to see what’s going on,” said Jake Ditton, junior secondary social science education major.

Dave Hendricks, director of the Memorial Union, said the building’s location provides the Union a chance to serve as a conference center and the goal is to make the first floor “formal and functional.”

Hendricks said there will be lobbies on both floors and lots of natural light. The Union has already been booked for several wedding receptions after the renovation is completed, he said.

“If you’ve ever had the opportunity to go to a national conference at a really nice hotel – that’s kind of what we’re shooting for,” Hendricks said.

Hendricks said that the conference center will have wall sconces, custom ordered chandeliers and division walls.

“The more off campus groups we can attract, the fewer times we have to ask students to increase our operating fees,” Hendricks said.

Hendricks said the lobby by Webb Hall is expected to be a high traffic area as the plan is to turn this spot into a gallery to display student artwork.

When the renovation is finished, Hendricks said students will be able to utilize gas fireplaces located in several areas around the Union.

“If it’s a cold day, and I’m already here, I know I would use (the fireplaces),” said Jessica Gaddis, senior theater major.

Hendricks said the Lakeview Cafeteria been completely remodeled and the kitchen has new coolers and freezers. There is a new hallway to connect the loading dock to the kitchen to make deliveries more accessible.

The Hornet Express will be three times its original size and will have smoothie and Mexican bars.

“We’re going to serve European style in the dining area now (and) we plan to have an Italian bar again,” Hendricks said.

Part of the Italian bar will be accessible through the dining area, but another part will be outside and accessible to students without meal plans, he said.

Hendricks said, weather permitting, the renovated Webb Hall, student lobbies, bookstore and new office areas should be completed by spring break and by March 28, these areas should be ready for use.

The admissions office will move to the first floor of the Union and out of Plumb Hall once the renovation is finished.

“We’ll be more accessible to prospective students (in our new location),” said Laura Eddy, director of admissions.

Hendricks said anyone who is interested in seeing the progress of the renovation can schedule an appointment and arrange a tour.

Beth Edmonds

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For Rosie Sauls, a student assistant in the Multicultural Affairs department, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is more than just a day of remembrance.

“Our main (goal) is to reiterate what Martin Luther King’s message was more than the “I Have a Dream” speech, that’s why I added the jail cell activity,” Sauls said.

Sauls has been orchestrating the children’s morning portion of the day’s event, which will be held in the Memorial Union, and has tried to deepen the knowledge of Martin Luther King Jr.’s works by creating a station for the children to write letters like King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to try and put the children in his shoes and see how he felt.

Sheryl Lidzy, faculty adviser for the Black Student Union and professor of Communications, has been helping to spread the word about the event.

“ESU and the community sponsor many activities available on Monday, including an art activity in the Memorial Union and a free dinner,” Lidzy said.

This celebration marks the 25^th year the holiday has been observed, despite being signed into law in 1983, according to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service website.

There is a day of activities planned for this coming Monday including a children’s art program with a project the children can take home, a candlelight walk from William Allen White Library to First Presbyterian Church where a free dinner is being held.

There are also numerous guest speakers talking on the subject of Martin Luther King Day and Pastor Leo Barbee will have a presentation on “Taking a Stand for Things that Matter.” The event has many pastors and speakers from the community to reach every demographic.

“Martin Luther King was a pastor, so that plays an important role in the day – but the event is for everybody, it’s not just ESU or First Presbyterian or the community, everyone plays a part in the event,” Lidzy said.

There will also be a station for writing about things they dream of and how those could come to pass, with more of an essay for the older children. Also the Textiles and Toymakers Club will be creating a bubble art project for the children to take home.

Charlie Heptas

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Pedersen

On Monday, I have a photojournalism class in the evening. The first Monday back is always a tiring one, so I decided to buy a Mountain Dew during our break to wake myself up. So I went to the vending machine, pulled out my $1.25 and prepared my mouth for some limey refreshment.

But alas, there was no Dew to be had. In fact, there were no Pepsi products at all, and the drinks cost $1.50. And it was then I remembered that Emporia State had signed a deal with Coca Cola to sell their products exclusively.

Now I am not a man who has to have a soda every day, nor do I really prefer Pepsi over Coke. I will enjoy a soft drink from time to time, but not very often. But when I do enjoy a bottle of the bubbly, I do not want to pay as much for 16 ounces as I would for an immense 44 ounces at the Kwik Shop across the street.

And, of course, it is not just soda that has risen in price, but also juice and bottled water. A few years ago, bottles of soda were only $1 and they haven’t risen by that much anywhere else.

When the school signed the deal with Coca Cola, it seems that they were cutting out competition in exchange for, perhaps, a larger cut of the profits. The prices of Coca Cola products have not risen anywhere else. It is only on campus that we are forced to pay extra, if we choose to drink things from a vending machine.

This bothers me.

It may not be a big deal. It is only a quarter. But it shows to me the trends that ESU has been following and it shows what they could do in the future. Perhaps they will require art supplies and books to be purchased exclusively from the campus bookstore and enforce it by threat of fines.

Hopefully that will never happen, but if they continue to reduce competition, we could eventually find ourselves in a situation like that. Our entire economic structure is based on choice and preference, and they are rocking the boat.

We are a capitalistic society and competition is the backbone of our economy. The cola wars have been going on for as long as I can remember, back to the days of Pepsi Blue and Coke’s failed new recipe.

Now the school has cut out that competition in exchange for a deal. I can understand that the school always has a need to be greedy, we are renovating the Memorial Union and, let’s face it, much of the rest of the campus could use a renovation as well.

But I still don’t see that as an excuse to charge us more for soda. Student fees have already been raised and they will probably continue to be, so why not add in some extra money for what we can maybe assume the school can make from soda and call it even?

Personally, I will not buy into this game. I have not purchased anything from a vending machine yet this year, and I don’t plan on doing it in the future. I will gladly bring a bottle of water from home which I can reuse before I will pay an exorbitant amount for a bottle of water from a vending machine, and I urge you to do the same.

¡Viva la Revolución!

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