The first time I entered Case Dining Hall, I was taken aback. Most of my dining experience had been with Fountain and occasionally Clark Dining Halls. Now, I relish any day I get to eat at Case.
The problem with eating at Case is that it is not always possible. People form a line out the door during lunch, and the building is reserved solely for student athletes for dinner. So what sets Case apart?
Mike Brownlee, the manager of Case Dining Hall, said Case collaborates with the athletics department and has nutritionists who overlook the menu to verify it meets athletics’ standards.
Because of this emphasis on student athletes, there is more care taken to provide a certain quality of food with lots of nutrients and vitamins to support athletes’ bodies.
But Case’s superiority goes beyond the food; the staff at Case feel different from Fountain and Clark too.
“You’ll catch that same mentality [of giving back] with everybody in this building,” Brownlee said. “You’re gonna see that look in their eye. You’re gonna see that care and their actions. You’re going to see them go out of their way to ensure that you guys have the best experience possible while you’re in our four walls.”
There is a community in Case that feels very close knit. Friendly employees greet you on your way into the building, and workers immediately respond to any concern. The experience at Case feels comfortable and familial.
Brownlee said the building’s layout with long tables rather than separated smaller ones adds to the close-knit atmosphere.
With this layout, students are prompted to share a close space at a long table with lots of other people. This layout is reminiscent of a kitchen table at someone’s home, just a few feet away from the stove where all the cooking takes place.
In addition to the indoor portion of the building, there is an outside deck equipped with a piano for students to play. This gives students the option to eat within the dining hall while also being able to enjoy being outdoors. Many students take advantage of this when the weather is nice as if they are eating on a front porch. If you are lucky enough, someone will play the piano to add a soundtrack to the meal.
Case is unlike any other dining hall on campus, and it is by far my favorite. It maintains a warm, cozy atmosphere while still having a concerted effort on nutrition. The experience of eating inside any other dining hall does not compare.
Brownlee commented, “Customer service, food quality, atmosphere. Those are the top three [reasons].”
Other dining halls on campus have a lot of room to improve. Athletes eat at other dining halls on campus besides Case, and the athletics department should take that into consideration. The athletic department could extend the nutritionists to hold all dining halls to the same standard and benefit all of the student body.
The same can be said about improving other dining halls’ atmospheres; there are certainly measures that could be taken to replicate the inviting environment Case offers.
The university should put more effort into on-campus dining to improve food quality and the dining experience for everyone, not just athletes.
