Jim Wulforst, director of dining services, briefed the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee on several new projects Dining Services will undertake to improve the dining experience at its meeting Monday night.
Dining Services plans to address student grievances through a number of initiatives to expand student options, Wulforst said.
"I just can't guarantee that everything we want to see happen will happen," he said.
Currently, Dining is in negotiations to keep the Great Hall open until 9 p.m. on weekdays and making brunch available on weekends. Wulforst added that the Refectory may soon be open for Sunday brunch.
"Students would like to see dining on West [Campus] more like East [Campus]," he said.
DUSDAC Co-chair Sarah Ramig, a senior, said the committee was looking into keeping on-campus restaurants, such as the Refectory, open until 3 p.m. for students who have midday classes.
"It would greatly increase their customer amount since students are coming out of class and it is a passing period," Ramig said.
In addition, Wulforst said several vendors will return to campus. The Caribbean Kitchen cart will come back on the Plaza with a revamped menu and lower prices, along with the LocoPops cart. The OnlyBurger Truck is also slated to return to campus following repairs made after an accident on Towerview Drive.
Wulforst said MediTerra, a new restaurant opening on Erwin Road by T.G.I. Friday's and Chipotle may be added to the Merchant on Points program. The new venue is being opened by Fares Hanna, owner of Twinnie's and Blue Express.
Construction of a new dining pavilion, which would be situated off the Plaza and across from the Great Hall, is also set to begin in 2010, in tandem with renovations to the Great Hall, Wulforst said.
In other business:
DUSDAC addressed concerns that Chai's Noodle Bar and Bistro was having problems accepting food points. The issue, however, had been resolved, Ramig said.
DUSDAC also discussed looking into why students cannot use DukeCards at off-campus vendors that are already a part of the Merchants on Points program.
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