Plenty of choices
More dining options to be added in the fall
Soft pretzels, lemonade and Nathan’s hot dogs will be new options available to the students at Liberty beginning in August 2015 as Sodexo Dining Services will be introducing Auntie Anne’s to the campus.
Appetite — Sodexo workers prepare sweet treats. Photo credit: Courtney Russo
Casey Guise, unit marketing coordinator for Sodexo, explained that Sodexo wants to offer more snacking options for students.
“(Sodexo) is looking at dining trends all the time on campus,” Guise said. “We want to offer innovating and exciting concepts. And of course Auntie Anne’s will take Flames Cash.”
Auntie Anne’s will be located in the Tinney Café at the Jerry Falwell Library and will be replacing Southern Tsunami Sushi. Guise confirmed that sushi will still be made fresh every day and sold on campus at Simply to Go. Construction on the new Auntie Anne’s will begin at the end of the spring 2015 semester.
“I’ll definitely be eating there,” sophomore Baylee Collins said. “It’s in a convenient location, and I enjoy their pretzels.”
According to Guise, Sodexo began looking into new innovative eateries that would best suit the Liberty student body. The idea of having Auntie Anne’s on campus came about this semester.
“We are looking at opportunities all the time,” Guise said. “Change is something the Liberty community is good at, in a good way.”
Sodexo will be introducing many new dining options next semester in addition to Auntie Anne’s. A food truck that will travel around campus is currently in the works. It will serve a variety of different foods. It will also be used for concessions at Liberty sponsored events.
In the fall, there will be a new option for salad lovers in the Tilley food court. This station will enable students to create customized gourmet tossed salads along with fresh, homemade salad dressings. This dining option is a part of the initiative “Live Healthy Liberty.”
The Reber-Thomas Dining Hall will begin creating specialty hamburgers. According to Guise, a Taylor grill will be used to create a more authentic dining experience for students. This grill will increase the quality of hamburgers by making the burger healthier while also improving the taste.
Lastly, Wingstreet will be introduced to Pizza Hut in the Tinney Café at the Jerry Falwell Library. According to Guise, Wingstreet is an extension of Pizza Hut that offers chicken wings ranging in flavor from mild to spicy. This will give the students more variety and another snacking option.
Guise stated that Sodexo is confident in their changes and additions for next semester. They believe these dining options will enrich the dining experiences of the students on campus.
The menus for places such as Doc’s Diner and Wholly Habaneros will be evaluated and improved as well. Guise explained they desire to keep the menus new and exciting.
“We are very excited and we hope (the students) enjoy,” Guise said.
As the largest student employer at Liberty, Guise stated that Sodexo will be hiring Liberty students as well as students from surrounding colleges to work at different dining locations around Liberty.
“We appreciate our student workers every day … We also understand academics are extremely important,” Guise said.
There will be a job fair April 29 and open interviews will be held during the fair for those applying. There are many positions open around campus. Students may also apply online through Sodexo’s website.
FYI
Coming in fall of 2015, commuters with meal plans will be able to swipe at locations that accept bonus meals.
Frost is a news reporter.