

Minji Kong/THE

REVIEW

The recent renovations of the Scrounge are just the beginning of an all over makeover for the Perkins Student Center.



BY

Senior Reporter

The recent renovations of the Scrounge are just the beginning of an all over makeover for the Perkins Student Center. More changes will be coming starting this winter, starting with the relocation of Dunkin’ to the current info desk in the front lobby.

Amanda Steiner, vice president of operations at dining services, said food is a key part of Perkins, and they want to make that theme flow throughout the building rather than keeping it isolated to one space. As Dunkin’ is a key mainstay in Perkins, bringing in the majority of sales at the Scrounge, dining services will not close the current store until the new location is ready for business.

“We need to make sure that we queue it correctly and also make sure we fix the speed of service,” Steiner said.

Construction is set to begin at the end of December and be finished by January.

A large difference between Perkins and Trabant is the amount of kiosk space available for student organizations and outside vendors to advertise. Trabant has three advertising spaces available for students, while students advertising in Perkins are limited at a fold-out table near the info desk. Steiner said that’s something they plan on fixing in Perkins as well.

Next summer, dining services will close the Scrounge again to construct that pop-up kiosk space. According to Steiner, the stand will not only feature students but also local female and minority business partners.

Based on student center surveys, Steiner said that students indicated a desire for variety. The pop-up kiosk, as well as the flip kitchen where Dunkin’ currently is, will allow them to bring more of what students want to space. Dunkin’, of course, keeps the same menu every day, but their space has the potential to offer different menus in a limited amount of time.

“Building this flip kitchen, we can build a menu that rotates and flips and isn’t always the same thing every single day,” Steiner said.

Plans for a 24/7 diner that offers burgers, fries, shakes and breakfast all day are also in the works for Perkins.

Lia O’Brien, a junior communication major, said a diner is exactly what she feels has been missing from campus.

“Out of all the food places on campus and on Main Street, I’ve always wanted to have a diner,” O’Brien said. “I think that [the hours] will appeal to people who don’t eat during typical meal hours and people who are up late studying.”

Renovations and other details for that project will be completed by the beginning of October.