Sam Kang

Contributing Writer

At the start of the semester, Campus Dining introduced a variety of changes, from an updated Mom’s Late Night menu to the new Reuzzi system. According to Marjorie Shamp, the director of campus dining, Creative Dining Services (CDS) made these changes in an attempt to accommodate the campus community.

The new Reuzzi program involves green plastic boxes and reusable coffee cups. The reusable boxes are available for check-out at Lowry Dining Hall and the reusable coffee cups are available at MacLeod’s C-Store, Old Main Café and the Knowlton Science Café. 

Last year, when students misplaced their containers, they could buy another container with a meal swipe. This year, a new accountability program was implemented to solve issues of lost or thrown-out to-go containers. Shamp described the system as “very much like how a library book works.”

If a student returns a box or cup within two days, they will receive the maximum reward points of 15. Containers returned anywhere from two to 30 days after it is checked out will only reward the student with five points. The container will be marked as lost if not returned 30 days after it has been checked out. A container that is marked lost will remain checked out to a student’s account indefinitely – and student will eventually incur a fine of five dollars for not returning containers.

Per Shamp, this program has increased the return rate of reusable containers, remedying the issue of the large amount of green boxes that were thrown away last year. 

CDS is also in the process of fulfilling requests made by students during last year’s demonstration at President Anne McCall’s inauguration, which criticized the administration for going “one step forward, three steps back,” with their inclusivity and diversity efforts. Following McCall’s inauguration, an additional student-led protest in Lowry’s lobby called upon CDS to improve the dining quality. 

Demands included the addition of a spice rack, a microwave and quality control of food, as well as support for and recognition of different cultures through the celebration of religious and cultural holidays. Other additions to dining include more options for customizable meals, such as quesadillas and hot subs.

Plans are in the works to discuss additional ways to celebrate religious and cultural holidays, and Shamp encouraged any students to email her with ideas and feedback. 

“Our biggest challenge is making sure that the recipes are authentic, so student input is especially appreciated,” Shamp said.

 The menu for Mom’s Late Night dining has also recently changed, and at the request of students, now serves personal pizzas alongside its usual subs and salad options. Shamp also stated that CDS management are “looking to add additional items to the late-night menu in January.” 

EMAIL TRANSCRIPT:

(This is a direct copy paste, so sorry if the format is a bit off)

Hello, Sam

Sorry this is taking so long—I have a lot going on right now.

Is the success rate generally higher for Reuzzi versus last year’s system? What changed?  The Reuzzi system has added an accountability factor to the return of the containers.  Last year if students forgot or lost their containers, they just bought another with a meal swipe, which created a situation where Campus Dining had to constantly replace the containers.  This is not sustainable for many reasons.  If containers were being thrown away, imagine the amount of plastic waste that creates.  That is counter to the goals of a reusable container program.

Is Wooster Dining Services looking into other “greener” forms of dining (incluidng improving the Reuzzi return rate for 2024-2025 and onwards)?  This is the first year for Reuzzi, so it will be the “benchmarking” year.  We would like to see a 96% return rate (or better) with Reuzzi.  Campus Dining also participates in food waste composting where pulped food waste from the dish room is transported to a composting facility in Wooster.  We are also working with students on other initiatives, which will be announced as they are implemented.

Is campus dining still working to fulfill the requests from last year’s demands from the protest that took place during President McCall’s inauguration?  Many of the requests have been fulfilled.  We continue to implement changes based on student feedback, including adding additional spices to the spice area, providing opportunities for students to create custom meals, such as quesadillas and hot subs and adding personal pizzas to the late night menu.  If a student has a request, they can submit it through our Feedback form.  There are signs at each location with the QR code to scan to submit feedback directly.

Will the food options at Mom’s Late Night change throughout the year – or are they serving personal pizzas only throughout the year?  Mom’s late night menu has a full menu of hot or cold subs and salads.  The personal pizzas were added back to the menu this year by student request.  We are looking to add some additional items to the late night menu in January.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Have a good day,

Marjorie

2nd Email on follow up response about

1. How long do students have to return the boxes/cups before they are held accountable?

The Reuzzi system works this way:

If you return it within 2 days, you receive the maximum reward points (15).

If you return it after 2 days, and up to 30 days, you receive 5 points.

The container status will change to “lost” after 30 days.  No reward points will be given for a return after that time.

The “lost” container counts toward the 4 that you are allowed to have checked out at any one time.  If you have all 4 containers checked out and try to check out a 5th, or If all 4 of your containers change to “lost”, then you won’t be able to check out any more.  

At that point, the student should see me, and we will ask them to pay $5 each for the lost containers (cash, check or credit/debit), and then we will submit a request to have the student’s account reset to 4.

This is very much like how a library book works.  Use it for a period of time with the expectation that you will return it.  Lose it, and you must pay to replace it.

Right now, the vast majority of students have 1 or 2 containers checked out at a time.  The system is going very well.  Lowry Dining Hall continues to have a good supply of containers to provide, which is the whole purpose of the system.

Good luck with your article.

-Marjorie

Second email (question: 2. How has Dining Services made efforts to celebrate holidays and independence days of countries with the aim to demonstrate the diversity and range of cultures?

We currently work with students on Lunar New Year, Black History Month menus, Indigenous People’s Day, the annual Seder dinner, offer accommodations for students observing Ramadan and plan special menus each year for International Education Week in November.  We currently have meetings scheduled with students to discuss additional ways we can celebrate religious and cultural holidays.  I encourage any student with ideas to email me at Mshamp@wooster.edu.  Our biggest challenge is making sure that the recipes are authentic, so student input is especially appreciated.