Feeding Frenzy in the Student Union

Sophomore Molly Brosier pays for her Pinkberry at the Student Union

The Ole Miss Student Union offers dining options that will be sure to satisfy any taste bud. Food ranging from chicken and burgers to pizza and salad, and even frozen yogurt is what you have to choose from when walking into the Union.

Yet when you walk into the Union during lunchtime, all you see is people. People lining up to get their chicken from Chick-fil-a or people snaked up the stairs to the third floor waiting to order a Subway sandwich.

Once you get your food that you waited countless minutes for, you then have to battle other students to find a place to eat your lunch. Finding a seat for one person isn’t impossible, but when eating with a group you might as well take your lunch to go.

Walking into the Union during lunchtime is like a feeding frenzy and with increased student enrollment rates, the problems won’t go away for at least a few more years.

The Union is set to undergo some changes over the next few years, which includes an expansion that many students will appreciate. The Union will increase its size by expanding into the parking lot that currently accompanies the building.

Some changes have already occurred at the Union. Magnolia Kitchen was closed down to make room for Panda Express, which seems to be a hit among students.

“Panda Express is a great addition to the Union because it adds more food variety. Everybody seems to love it so I think it was very smart of them to add it,” said sophomore, Julie Roher.

While restaurant changes are positive for the Union, extra seating is what the students will be looking for. With the Union being a hub for students and the campus, the increase of students in the coming years will mean that seating will become essential. The expansion will add another dining area to the Union, addressing the issue of overcrowding.

Heather Bradley, Pinkberry worker give her opinion on increased student enrollment's impact on the Student Union.

“When eating at the Union you have to figure out the best time to go. During lunchtime it’s always crowded and hard to find tables that are clean or open for people to sit and eat before class. I think that with more students it will become harder to eat at the union unless you plan accordingly,” said sophomore, Molly Brosier.

In addition to another dining area, the Union is set to add more meeting rooms for groups like the Associated Student Body and a ballroom to host a variety of events. The addition is scheduled to begin this summer and will be completed in four years.