One Month of The Commons!

By Madison Dyer

This past summer, the campus dining hall underwent a thorough renovation, being transformed from the “Dining Hall” into “The Commons.” In addition to the complete aesthetic makeover, several new stations were added and expanded.

Upon entry, students are greeted by the new Italian station on the left, where the pasta and pizza can be found in abundance. An oven dome gives these pizzas new life, and students can sit along the far counter and gaze into the open oven, inhaling the savory aroma of crisping bread.

On the right, more familiar stations line the wall, starting with the Soup and Salad station. After that, the Habanero Station has found its new home, now expanded into two sections.The “Subzone” is a station filled with delicious sandwich-making ingredients. The Power Bar and Home Cooking stations remain in their old places, familiar to returning students. A new station has joined them in the far corner: Garden Bites. This is where the baked potatoes have migrated from the Power Bar, accompanied by a rotating selection of treats.

To the left of Garden Bites is one of the most notable new additions, a station completely dedicated to serving individuals with serious allergies. It has its own miniature kitchen, keeping its food out of contact with anything unintended. 

Sophomore Nursing student, Abigail Estes, expressed thankfulness for this incorporation. 

“As someone who is really sensitive to gluten and dairy, I really appreciate the way they added the Allergen Aware section and that they marked which foods have allergens in them,” Estes said. “I can eat much more at ease now.” 

Continuing to circle around the room, to the left and across from the Allergen Aware station, the Bake Shoppe rests behind the stairs to upper level seating. Students can find their much beloved ice cream and soft serve, cookies, brownies and occasionally pie.

Around the corner, the new Grille station is nestled into the back of the stairs. Here, burgers, hot dogs, and fries are available. Even further around the stairs, the self-cook station remains. Returning students may rest assured that the opportunity to amalgamate the various ingredients scattered around the room remains.

The Breakfast All Day station is now available on the far side of the dining hall. If students find themselves craving waffles, they may satiate their desire by making them regardless of the time of day.

If one takes their loaded plate upstairs, they will discover a delightfully organized array of additional seating options. Cadence Powers, a junior Professional Writing and Information Design major, noted the new features of the upstairs layout.

“The fireplace, booths, and new layout in Upchucks is really nice,” Powers said.

Now, many students are hesitant to call the dining hall “The Commons.” Whether out of habit, commitment to Cedarville history or sheer stubbornness, many students continue to refer to the dining hall as it was once dubbed long ago: Chuck’s. Some students are particularly vehement and insistent about retaining this old name, while others are relatively unconcerned. 

However each student feels about the renovations, it is undeniably aesthetic and clean. The color scheme matches the University brand, and the new stations welcome exploration. Take a look, walk along the line of stations, sit beside the upstairs fireplace and experience The Commons in its infancy. 

Madison Dyer is a Sophomore Professional Writing and Information Design student, who grew up nearby the University. She likes to draw, play guitar and engage in general shenanigans.