By Sarah Burton
The new school year of 2022-2023 at Houghton has brought in many changes, most notably the change from college to university. However, the title is not the only thing that has undergone change – Metz’s dining options for students have as well.
Dinner hours on weekdays have been extended on Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00pm to 9:30pm. Poblano’s and Big Als have been replaced by Sizzle and Swirl with Poblano’s reappearing in the Dining Hall as a taco/burrito bar. Big Als was not as fortunate to make a return.
In an interview, sophomore Alliah Fluent remarked on the changes Metz has made this year, saying how she appreciates the smoothie bar and waffle maker but misses the pasta station. The change Fluent feels the most is the removal of meal exchange.
“Athletes are most affected by these changes,” she said. “The extended hours don’t have a lot of good options for us. I haven’t been able to visit Sizzle and Swirl yet because I haven’t had time.”
She also mentioned the use of flex dollars, saying, “Other meal plans at other schools allow for multiple flex options; we already have a limited amount of flex dollars to spend at Java, having another place only makes it harder.”
Sophomore Tony Agueci Jr. discussed the changes to Metz as well.
“I do have a problem with having to use flex dollars for the “Swirl” half,” he said. “I feel like a big part of Houghton culture is the ice cream being always available in the Dining Hall.”
He also mentioned that Houghton was the number one consumer of ice cream from the company from which it used to buy.
“Houghton ate the most ice cream of all. I feel like that’s a name we should try to live up to, as unhealthy as it sounds,” he said.
To be able to do this, Agueci believes it would be a good idea to move the soft-serve back upstairs at least, while keeping the special flavors downstairs.
In terms of the Poblano’s burrito bar, he really only has one fear.
“What I know is that the Poblano’s station is where they used to serve Buffalo chicken nuggets, so I hope the burritos don’t replace the ‘buff nuggs!’” he said.
Change is always difficult, and the Houghton student body is facing a lot of it this year. In response to Metz’s new dining options, the majority of students seem concerned not only about the use of flex dollars, or the accommodations for various student groups, but also how it impacts the culture of the campus as a whole.★
