After reviewing the Wendy’s in the Student Union over the last three semesters, Carolina Dining Services has decided to abandon its original plan of being the only 24-hour dining option on campus.
While the move is purely due to cost savings — a projected $80,000 per year — Carolina Dining Services must remember to keep their commitment to students. The best way to do this would be by opening up 24-hours a day during finals week.
CDS is trying to work to accommodate students looking for breakfast, by opening Chick-fil-A at Lenoir Mainstreet and Alpine Bagel earlier on weekdays for breakfast. While this is a good first step to mend the broken promise of a 24-hour food option, it isn’t a viable long-term solution.
Particularly, the closing of Wendy’s will present problems for many students come finals. During this dreadful time, students slave away late into the night at the Undergraduate Library. There are few things more comforting at three or four in the morning than a smooth chocolate frosty from Wendy’s.
While it is reasonable to close the restaurant at times when historically there little to no sales, the week of finals will most certainly present a different pattern of business than an average week. Students’ sleep and study schedules vary wildly during this time and it will be a major inconvenience if the closest source of food to the library is on Franklin Street.
During these constraining times, cost cutting is a necessity, but it shouldn’t be overused at the expense of students. CDS along with the Wendy’s in the Student Union can afford to open up for 24/7 services during finals weeks in the spring and fall.
