The recent extension of dining hall and Java Beanery and Bakery hours might not be as noticeable as the construction of the Doudna Fine Arts Center or development on Lincoln Avenue, but it will directly affect a large number of Eastern students.

Mark Hudson, director of housing and dining, said the extended hours were a direct response to the Residence Hall Satisfaction Survey.

“We take a survey of the residents as to what was working, what wasn’t working, and there was some suggestion of additional hours,” Hudson said. “It’s part of our ongoing effort to meet student needs and requests.”

Four-and-a-half hours have been added to weekends and 36.5 total hours during the week.

“Students suggested a little more flexibility and we look at the hours and see what we can manage and expand them accordingly,” Hudson said.

The Java Beanery and Bakery also extended its hours.

The Beanery increased its hours by 16.5 hours and will now be open on Saturdays.

The additions result in a 57.25-hour increase in dining time.

Nikki Larney, a senior communications disorders and sciences major, is an employee of Stevenson Tower dining services during the week.

“I don’t work the extended hours so the change doesn’t really affect me as a worker; as a student I like it,” Larney said.

Hudson said the university would not know if the extended hours are benefiting students right away.

“Generally we get a report every quarter of usage,” Hudson said. “We will probably look back at the end of first semester and see what it looks like.”

Hudson said with the additional hours came an increase in labor, but if the new hours are made use of, then it is a reasonable trade-off.

Larney said a normal shift for a student dining service worker is about two hours a day depending on student schedules and how much they are willing to work.

“Except on weekends, the smallest shift is 2 hours,” she said.

As for the increase in students, Larney said she has not been there to experience it first hand but she thinks the students are starting to use the new hours more as the semester continues because they are finally starting to notice them.

Nathan Galloway, a freshman industrial technologies major, place a slice of cheese on his hamburger while eating lunch in Thomas Dining Thursday afternoon. Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News

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