Daly’s transforms to accommodate large crowds

By Ashley Reilly

It is almost always visible when 12:30 p.m. rolls around here on campus.

That’s when flocks of students head to Daly’s. Inside the dining hall is a sea of
students with red trays, usually piled high with varieties of food, looking for a place to sit.

Since last year, the crowds in Daly’s have been a concern to students. Now there is talk
circulating that construction plans may be in the works.

Talk of enclosing the patio and making the indoor dining area larger has not been totally dismissed, according to Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Jan Friedman-Krupnick.

“No decisions have been made, but we have been looking into it,” said Friedman-Krupnick about the possibility of the construction.

The necessity for the construction has been greatly decreased. One way the University has tried to reduce the crowds at Daly’s is by sending e-mails to students encouraging different meal times. The board room is also open during peak lunch and dinner hours to expand the available
seating. In addition, there are grab-and-go lunches that are easy, convenient and allow for a quick brown-bag lunch.

At times Daly’s can be a challenge for some students who have tight schedules.

“It’s frustrating when you only have 40 minutes to eat and waiting in line takes up a lot of your time,” said freshman Vrunda Patel.

Since the renovation, Friedman-Krupnick has gone to Daly’s to witness firsthand whether or not it has made a difference.

“[They] seemed to have worked well,” said Friedman-Krupnick.

Seating has become less of a problem, which means that the board room may now be open to hold meetings during certain dining hours. However, there are still issues with the lines to receive food.

“Lines can be five minutes long, and we were prepared to open another line in the diner,” said Friedman-Krupnick.

Student Affairs has recently been contacted about the wait at Java City at certain hours and addressed the issue immediately. Additional workers have been added during these hours.

“[The] initial response was: It worked great,” said Friedman-Krupnick.

If there are any concerns or suggestions for improvements, students should contact Friedman-Krupnick at jfk@rider.edu. Students can also voice their concerns at the Food Committee meetings held in the Bronc Diner every other Thursday at 11:30 a.m. The next meeting will be held on Nov. 16.

Friedman-Krupnick and her co-workers in Student Affairs encourage student input, and they are more than willing to make changes accordingly.

“It’s the only way to do things; otherwise, we don’t make good decisions,” said Friedman-Krupnick.