As the semester begins, Keene State Dining has announced updated hours for the Zorn Dining Commons (DC). The new hours for the dining hall are from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, while Saturday and Sunday, the DC opens later at 10:30 a.m. and closes at 8:30 p.m. Lloyd’s Marketplace’s hours have also been updated. Its new hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m to 7 p.m. and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
With the new hours in place, students have expressed many different thoughts about the changes.
Junior Bridget Stephens said she likes the new hours because of how it works with her practice schedule. She likes how this is an option for her because it was not with the previous hours. “I like the new hours a lot because I have late 5:30 practices and I can just get food afterwards without the dining hall being closed,” Stephens said.
Junior Sarah Stagg agreed with Stephens and said, “It’s good the DC is open later because if you have a class at 6 p.m. you’re able to eat later now without the doors already being locked.”
Other students had different reactions regarding the hours and disagreed with Stagg and Stephens.
Senior Erin Plummer said she likes to wake up early, making the weekend hours less than ideal. “I think the DC opening later at night is great but in the morning, not so fantastic,” Plummer said. “Switching the hours for the weekend is crazy because having people like me who like to eat in the mornings is hard if they don’t have access to food.”
Plummer continued, “In a sense, the dining hall is the same thing that happened to Lloyd’s last year when they closed later and the DC closed early. I am just confused how that fixes anything. Another example is when I have to go to work in the morning and I want to eat breakfast but the time they open is when I have to leave for work.”
Senior Bee Wilkinson stated, “I like how the dining hall is open way later throughout the week but it’s crazy they open later on the weekend, especially if you are one of those people that wake up early and you’re hungry.”
Senior Julia McGowan said she preferred the old dining hall hours over the new ones because she gets hungry in the morning. “I get hungry the second I wake up and now I have to wait to eat,” McGowan said. “I’m not too happy about that.”
Keene State Dining Resident District Manager Patrick Friley was not available for comment.
Those with more questions or information regarding hours of the dining hall can visit the Keene State Dining website, Dine On Campus.
Tamy Jacques can be reached at
tjacques@kscequinox.com
