In the late fall of 2011, a group of a student leaders wanted to improve the experience in the residential dining halls on the NIU campus.
Now the committee has grown to 12 to 14 members who attend each week. Members are from each residence hall, RHA, the Student Association and commuter students.
Throughout the week, the food committee looks at anything ranging from customer service and wait times to overall look of the dining center and foods that are served.
“The food committee meets every Monday to discuss any concerns and comments from fellow residents throughout the dining centers,” said Maria Wojnicki, sophomore communication major. “Week by week, there are always improvements being made, whether big or small.”
A few key highlights from the student food committee:
- Adjustments to the “Late Night” menu
- Reporting on “theme” dinners
- Changes to variety and types of foods offered in the residential dining centers
- Focus on offering more nutritionally focused items
- Complimenting great or outstanding service
- Addressing when and where there are service concerns so they are addressed
- New dinner board at Douglas Hall
- More vegetarian and vegan items and that they are labeled
- Adjustment to the Trident service hours
- Addressing portion control
- Suggesting favorite food items that students send to the meeting via their representatives and would like to see on the menu more often
The student food committee meets every Monday to discuss what members noticed and what constituents reported from the prior week that needs to be addressed in the committee meeting.
For more information, or to join the Student Food Committee, contact Maria Wojnicki, secretary of the RHA, at (815) 753-1078.
by Brandon Grosz
