By By: Kaylee Darnell
Sports Editor
Contrary to popular belief, people did enjoy Subconnection and Starbucks as two separate locations on campus. Since the spring semester started, the two have combined into one place for students to enjoy.
“We all wanted to provide a larger space for students, faculty and staff to sit and relax while they enjoy a coffee or frappuccino and a sandwich. We also hope that the larger space will allow us to provide a faster service and a more advanced menu,” Michelle Shedd-Stark, operations director of Dining Services, said.
Since the join, people are wondering if there will still be personalized sandwiches and subs. Will they still get to choose what they want on their sandwich, or is it up to the workers what is on each sandwich?
“At this time, we will offer a wide variety of pre-made sandwiches and subs, personal pizzas, cheese stuffed pretzels, Danish and pastries and so much more,” Shedd-Stark said.
Though this could possibly affect any student, the athletes at IU South Bend feel as though they lost one of their easiest places to get food for practice, matches, and games. Some of the athletes relied on getting a sandwich before their long bus ride to an away game, and now it’s possibly taken away.
“I definitely preferred it being two different dining locations – it was so nice for my teammates and I to run into Subconnect to order our own sandwich to have for our away games,” softball player Jaela Patton said. “Now anytime I walk in, there’s over 15 people waiting in line and one worker. It used to be so fast paced and everyone was served so quickly and it was just good food – now I don’t know.”
When asked what the dining services plan was for the athletes and their games they said they hope that in the near future they will be able to accommodate the events and the athletes again.
“I enjoy that they’re still offering subs in some kind of way, but I wish they had a bigger variety for us to choose from. Being able to run in there and order exactly what I want and how I want it made was the best part of Subconnect. Now there’s only certain ways the subs are made and you can’t expect everyone to like them,” basketball player Kenny Washington said.
Some athletes don’t mind the merge, but still have feelings in regard to what this brings to the students of IU South Bend and what they’re offered.
“I don’t mind Starbucks moving into Subconnect, but if they stop serving sandwiches how we want them made, that’s going to be a problem,” basketball player Spencer Pettit said.
“I like both Starbucks and Subconnect, and I’m sure the merger made it easy for all of IUSB dining, but I just hope they are able to handle the larger crowd and long lines they’re asking for by doing this,” softball player Haley Fair said. “I also hope they listen to the voices of not only the athletes, but everyone when we ask to have personal subs and sandwiches back.”
Some believe this change was good for everyone involved and some are worried it may change the entire course of on-campus dining. Whichever outcome may be, IU South Bend’s Dining Services is open to all questions, comments and concerns and can be reached online at iusb.edu/dining.
