A new ordering process was introduced in The Commons during freshman orientation week, but things started to revert back to the old way not long after. Chaos has ensued during peak meal times as many students, new and returning, are confused.
To receive a bulk of the food offered at The Commons, University of Portland students now have to pay first. This is a shift from the new process that Bon Appetit General Manager Kirk Mustain introduced during orientation week, allowing students to pay for their food after receiving it at separate stations.
“It’s kind of half and half,” Mustain said. “It’s still sorting itself out.”
He said that adaptations are still being made as problems arise. Lines stemming from the pizza and pasta register created a blockage at the entrance of The Commons, so to combat the issue, another register is being added to eliminate delayed wait times and create two shorter lines.
Three unused registers have been removed, freeing up space for a snake-like line for sandwiches. “It will be more like a Disneyland line,” Mustain said, laughing.
Unfortunately, Mustain said, theft still remains an issue.
“The best thing I can do as an operator is to create a process that just takes that out of the equation,” Mustain said.
According to Mustain, students not paying for their meals is the main reason Bon Appetit is reevaluating the setup of Bauccio Commons.
“I don’t enjoy the transitioning of processes,” said sophomore Daniel Guzmán on the recent confusion.
In addition to payment changes, students are also adjusting to using reusable plastic eco-tainers instead of paper boxes. Bon Appetit hosted an eco-tainer giveaway, and now each paper box will cost an extra 50 cents.
According to Mustain, 500 more eco-tainers were given away for free last week in The Commons. Now they will cost students a onetime fee of $5. Students can drop off their dirty eco-tainers in The Commons, Franz Coffee or the Pilot House. They will be given a carabiner that is redeemable for a clean reusable box in exchange.
