Students Frustrated by the Closing of Kimmel Dining Hall

Olivia Maniscalco, SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The closing of Kimmel Food Court has left many students outraged, specifically because the options at Schine student center, its replacement, close by 7 pm on weekdays, and 10 pm on weekends, staggering by restaurant. Panda Express, a favorite, closes at 4 pm. Kimmel, on the other hand, was completely open every night until 11. 

When asked to comment on this, Sue Bracy, Director of SU food services, states that for now, most restaurants will be closing by 8 pm on weekdays until they get more staff. The latest they will be allowed to be open is 10 pm because of New York State coronavirus rules. This interview was conducted before Schine opened, and as of recent, it seems the hours have changed to 7 pm instead of 8. 

Syracuse students are not fond of these early hours, freshman Aidan Maniscalco calling them “disappointing.” Many students relied on Kimmel for that late night snack after the dining halls close at 9. Now, they must make sure they do not wait too long to eat. Many students, including Maniscalco, have reported spending much more money on apps such as Grubhub and UberEats if it is past 9 pm and they have nothing to eat.

Another reason why Schine has gotten some backlash is because of the lack of junk food it carries. Kimmel had traditional foods such as hamburgers, mozzarella sticks and quesadillas, whereas Schine has more niche food options. When asked to comment on this, Bracy mentioned the french fry bowls at the Halal Shack, as well as the pizza at Tomato Wheel. While Schine does not provide the typical late night grub, it still has options. 

Many people are upset about the lack of the famous Schine quesadillas. Bracy says that Tex Mex “wasn’t a top contender” when students filled out surveys two or three years ago, so they did not prioritize it when choosing vendors for Schine. Luckily, though, the quesadillas are being sold at Food Dot Com in Newhouse.

In terms of what is going to happen to the empty Kimmel Food Court, Bracy says “Things are always changing on this campus. Kimmel may reopen as something else.” She states that she expects students will have lots of input, which will be taken into consideration. So, all hope is not lost on a Kimmel revival.