While Red Hot Rudy’s chicken tenders remain a mainstay in first-year diets, new sustainability efforts and added eating locations members are bringing new options to the dining hall.

Redhawk Dining’s Resident District Manager Andrew Gaynor shared that new dining options were launched directly from student feedback. 

“Student feedback helps drive our decisions in all aspects of dining on campus,” Gaynor wrote in an email to The Spectator. “We utilize the data we receive to launch exciting new programs, create limited time offers, and make other changes within the program to best benefit the student body.”

Redhawks may have noticed that in Cherry Street there is a new Smoothie Lab as a result of student feedback. Gaynor explained that students largely expressed interest in fresh, made-to-order smoothies. 

In addition to responding to student wishes, Redhawk Dining has re-launched the “Revolution” station with cooked-to-order pasta as opposed to the pre-cooked method used last year. The menu will also rotate more frequently in the near future, offering a student favorite—mac and cheese. 

First-year Communication and Media major Mia De Luca said she likes the variety of dining options. Lately, she has been trying out the newest addition to Seattle U Dining, the Smoothie Lab, though she finds it a bit too expensive for everyday dining. 

“If it’s a choice between a smoothie and a meal I would usually pick a meal,” De Luca said. 

Third-year Economics Major Sam Cooper-Drake pointed out that he isn’t the target audience for the dining hall as he doesn’t have a meal plan and rarely eats on campus. Drake did try out the Smoothie Lab, but found the ordering system a bit confusing as it requires students to download the Boost app and order through there. 

“Lines are going in different directions, I don’t know who or where I’m ordering from,” Cooper-Drake said. 

Cooper-Drake said he would like to put in his order with a staff member as he had several questions about the menu options and sizing. Although he doesn’t eat at the dining hall often, as he doesn’t have a meal plan, he suspects his confusion over the ordering process and dining layout is not unique. Cooper-Drake would prefer more “streamlined” ordering processes throughout, and clear waiting areas for smoothies and other orders. 

When they are not busy implementing feedback, the dining team works towards a more sustainable campus. One of the big contributors to Seattle U’s waste footprint is the compostable to-go ware. To-go ware is a convenient option for students who prefer to eat in the library or in their dorm room. However, these large containers often clog up the compost bins and are a contributor to litter around campus. 

To counter the level of food waste produced on campus, Redhawk Dining is shifting towards the use of reusable to-go dining ware called “Ozzi boxes.” Students who already have a meal plan will receive an Ozzi carabiner free of charge. They can then take it to the cashier of the location one is eating, either Cherry Street or the Bottom Line, and exchange their carabiner for a box. Once diners are finished with their meals, just like receiving the box, they can take it back to the cashier and get back their carabiner. Students without a meal plan and staff are also able to receive Ozzis if they pay a $5 deposit.

“The reusable boxes are a joint effort with the SU Center for Environmental Justice (CEJS) and Sustainability to help reduce our waste on campus and support a cleaner, greener future,” Gaynor wrote.

Alongside working with CEJS, Redhawk Dining works with the on-campus food pantry and has hired a sustainability student intern who focuses on ways the campus can improve sustainability efforts as well as fostering the growth of partnerships. 

If students wish to contribute to Redhawk Dining’s sustainability efforts, they are always looking for volunteers to repackage leftover foods to be frozen and given out through the food pantry as part of their partnership with the Food Recovery Network. 

As far as the development of new dining options, a smash burger concept, “Smash’d” will be opening in the Cave on a currently undetermined date. Redhawk Dining intends to make an announcement on their social media channels in the near future.

If one wishes to submit feedback about dining experiences or what else they’d like to see, feedback is encouraged and welcomed by Redhawk Dining. One can submit ideas through Seattle U’s Dine On Campus website or their “Text2Chat” platform.