Campus dining at U of T is in the midst of significant changes at the start of the 2006/07 academic year.
Various ethnic cuisines, halal and vegetarian options will now be available on campus, along with increased seating and greater convenience, according to Robert Zmak, general manager of Aramark Campus Services at U of T.
What remains unclear is how soon the changes will be seen by students given the limitations on construction at a busy campus.
“What we’re proposing to do is…develop the student experience,” said Zmak, speaking about planned changes.
He said that students will be impressed by “the type and variety of food,” as well as the convenience of “being able to pick something up and take it with you.” Diners will notice “the abundance of selection.” Aramark is “focusing on [the] freshness, the variety. We’re going to get away from the sliced bread sandwiches mom used to make.”
Philadelphia-based Aramark was awarded a ten-year contract, starting Aug. 1, to provide food on the St. George campus. The company already feeds U of T’s Scarborough campus.
There was a six-week period between the Aramark takeover and the start of classes on Sept. 11, meaning that many of the improvements and renovations will be phased in during the school year. Zmak did say, however, that much of the construction is to be complete by the start of the fall semester.
Additions will be made to existing services at Medical Sciences Building, Sidney Smith, Sandford Fleming, as well as the renovation of the New College dining hall. It was unclear, however, just how noticeable and how swift the changes would be. As of Sept. 1, there were no discernible differences at the Robarts food court or the Southside Café at Sid Smith.
“It’s the pasta place with a different name,” said a student at Robarts.
Aramark’s scope, too, is limited. None of the changes, present or future, deal with the sleepy east side of campus. According to Zmak, Aramark is contracted by the university to service only the west side.
