by Wes Abney
Business Manager

Hungy for tacos and coffee this quarter? Then you’re in luck for the next month and a half.

The currently limited food services on campus will continue to stay in place until the end of February.

With a wave of date changes and unsure answers to the issues of food on campus, this provides assurance that there will be hot food available through the completion of the new Pagoda Union Building (PUB). The food selection, however, will still be limited to what is left on campus.

“We’re saying right now that they will probably be running through the end of February,” said Stuart Trippel, acting vice president for Administrative Services. “We have confirmed with the services that they will stay as long as needed.”

This announcement followed the closure of the Whidbeys coffee tent, which was located right by the PUB construction site in the campus courtyard.

The Administration has stated that the reason behind the closure of the tent does not fall with the PUB replacing it, but with a lack of profit being made by the stand.

“It just wasn’t making any money,” said Trippel.

With heightened apprehension surrounding the

PUB’s completion, students and staff alike been concerned about the availability of food on campus.

“I wouldn’t eat on campus,” said SCC student Holliston Langendorfer. “The Taco Truck scares me, and I don’t know about going anywhere else.”

The closure of the coffee tent, which had been on campus for a number of years, is an example of dwindling options for hot food and drinks this year.

“With the PUB being closed right now, it would be nice if we had more places to eat,” said SCC student Noefel Al-Ansari. “But I’d still choose to have something [to eat] rather than nothing.”

Although the PUB will be opening near the end of February, the food services inside will not be starting at the initial occupancy.

“We are expecting full and complete occupancy of the Pub on the 18th of February,” said Trippel. “Because I have that date from the contractors, we can say that the food company, Chartwells, will be serving food approximately one week after the initial occupancy.”

Beyond the initial move-in of campus faculty and services, permits for food services have to be obtained and cleared before the college can start serving food. Planning on this lag between the opening of the building and food services, the administration has worked to ensure the presence of any food services on campus.

“They [Taco Truck and Whidbeys] have been extremely cooperative through the date changes,” said Trippel. “They have never said no.”

The answer for students who are hungry and tired of the Taco Truck is to simply wait and stick out the last two months of construction.

“While we never expect delays, it is realistic to be ready and expect delays,” said Director of Auxiliary Services Mary Kelemen. “We are just as anxious as any student to get this building open. We can’t wait.”