Pratibha Guatam
Staff Writer
The food court in Trojan Center greeted us with a fresh face this semester. On Aug. 16, the renovated food court opened for service.
The new Trojan Center has added food retailers like Marble Slab Creamery and Great American Cookies. The old A&W has been replaced with Steak ’n Shake.
The game room has been removed to create more space, and new square tables have been added. There is also a Boar’s Head within Trojan Center now.
Of the old food stations, Chick-fil-A and Mein Bowl, have been expanded to accommodate increasing demand. Einstein Bros. Bagels remains pretty much the same.
“The TC looks better than it did last semester,” said Nyla Fosters, a sophomore elementary education major from Troy. “Steak ’n Shake is good. Of course, ice cream and cookies are good. The wait for Chick-fil-A is not so long now that they’ve expanded.”
However, students still feel the need for options.
“There aren’t a lot of vegetarian options,” said Benny Robinson, a freshman history education major from Prattville. “Vegetarian meals need to be added and made more visible so that students notice them.”
Nola Aycock, a junior interpreter training major from Eutaw, said: “The burgers are better than they were before. It’s still fast food. We still need more healthy options.”
Space is still an issue in the Trojan Center food court. Although the addition of new chairs has helped mitigate some of this problem, there still isn’t enough space for the large morning and afternoon crowds.
Julian Carroll, a political science major from Dayton, Ohio, said, “I like the new square tables. People used to put together the round tables, which would take up so much space, but it’s still too crowded.
“I know not to go to TC in the mornings because I know I won’t get to class on time.”
Timely service is another concern students are facing while procuring food from Trojan Center, especially at Steak ’n Shake.
“Every time I’ve been to Steak ’n Shake, I’ve had to wait for long after ordering, and when I go there to ask, I’ve had to repeat my order while they seem very confused,” Carroll said.
“The way Steak ’n Shake serves food makes no sense. People who are five orders after me get their food before me.”
Along with timely service, quality service is also important. Students sometimes find employees in Trojan Center confused about the orders and menus.
Carleigh Sherman, a junior global business major from Tulsa, Oklahoma, said, “When I go to Einstein’s, the employees don’t seem to know what I’m asking for.”
Of course, some of these issues will be resolved with time. New stations, like Steak ’n Shake, might still need to access effective service methods in specific areas. Others, however, need to be addressed soon. Things like refilling condiments, cups and spoons should not be an issue. With a rise in incoming students, space and time are the major problems. Students having to wait in lines that run to the middle of the seating area is not a sign of good service.
Sodexo, the catering and food service company that manages Trojan Center, might look at these issues and improve on them. Timely quality service, space management and proper employee training should be prioritized so that students continue using the services. After all, Trojan Center is where most students like to spend their free time.
