Dining services reduced for safety reasons

Photo by Tanaja Campbell

BY TANAJA CAMPBELL / VN STAFF WRITER

Aside from transforming classes, the pandemic has also brought big changes to the dining halls.  

“Business has changed drastically because of Covid,” said a staff member who works for Metz, the company that handles food services at Detroit Mercy. “We went from serving 700 people to about 400.” 

This is mainly because many students are taking online courses from home.

Those who are commuting or living on campus this semester still have access to dining areas, like the Titan Dining Room (TDR). But thir options are limited to protect the safety of others.  

The more noticeable changes in the dining areas include one-way  traffic markers set in place to keep people separated, as well as signs to remind people to practice the proper precautions, like keeping their masks on while getting food.  

Hours and menu items in TDR and The Loft have changed, too.

Certain stations have been shut down and will not re-open this semester due to the pandemic. 

“They let no more than 50 people in at a time and we used to have a full house,” said a Metz worker. “They also stopped serving food in certain areas.” 

It is said that students living on campus are gravitating toward the on-campus Subway because of the limited menus and changes in other dining areas.  

When dining on the McNichols campus, expect employees to be in masks and gloves, and your food to be served in disposable containers.

Seating is limited and social distancing enforced.  

Dining areas are closed where students would normally congregate to further promote the safety of students and faculty.  

Smaller facilities, like Grounds CoffeeHaus and the dining areas at the Corktown and Riverfront campuses, are closed for the semester.

Dining employees have completed additional training on how to keep guests and colleagues safe.

Officials said the employees have their temperatures checked prior to their shifts in addition to wearing protective materials.

To find out more information pertaining to hours, menus and guidelines, visit https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/facilities/dining/