Dialogue has arisen recently between student athletes at Bryn Mawr and the dining services department concerning mealtimes. The Bi-College News sat down with Dining Services Director David Chase and Interim Director of Athletics Katie Tarr to discuss steps toward resolution.
According to Chase, mealtimes have been an ongoing issue with previous attempts at resolution: “We had on a trial basis…where we would keep Erdman open until 7:30 because New Dorm closes at 6:30 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and we found that no one was coming, especially on Friday nights. So, we talked to the athletic coaches and the director of athletics [at the time], and we said, you know, this seems to be a waste of time, and they all agreed.” This year, however, athletes who try to get dinner either didn’t make it on time, had limited food options, or were shooed out of the dining hall altogether. Over Fall Break, Chase met with the soccer team, head soccer coach Claire Scanlan, and college dietician Natalie Zaparzynski to get some feedback and find solutions. During this meeting, soccer players stated that the chicken–a staple for athletes seeking protein-loaded plates–was not available by the time they arrived after evening practices.
Athletic Director Katie Tarr also weighed in on dining halls not providing food towards the end of shifts: “The concern was making sure that there was food available through the entire hours of operation,” she said. Tarr emphasized the importance of dining halls serving food until close for student athletes who have practices during traditional dinner hours. She applauds Chase for managing the situation by speaking candidly with students, where Chase “listened to the concerns and kind of said what he had done on his end,” and reestablished the expectations of the dining hall.
Student staff have raised concerns about this new reinforcement of policy, anxious about overtime pay and having to stay past previously established hours. Hazel Nguyen, a student staff manager at New Dorm Dining Hall, noted that while she “want[s] to make sure that everyone has time to eat,” student workers were not “included in this decision.”
“It kind of was just made for us. I think if there was maybe a conversation with everyone, maybe this is going to happen soon, but instead it was like, this is happening, and now everyone has to do it. There was no compromise, I guess,” Nguyen told The Bi-Co News. “I think a lot of the supervisors and staff were just frustrated that we weren’t included in this decision.”
Chase understands the concerns raised by student workers, “but at the same time…it’s all about everyone having the opportunity to sit and enjoy a meal and communicate with friends.” He expressed that “dining is such a huge component of the overall student experience here, it’s really one of the major places where students meet and talk and relax.” Chase also clarified that the fifteen-minute buffer after close has always been school policy, though has been reinforced more frequently this semester. Regarding student pay for these buffer periods, Chase added, “[All] hours that a student works for dining or anywhere on campus, they are paid for. Regardless of whatever the scenario is.”
Student athletes and dining hall staff have two collaborative directors in their pocket who are interested in advocating for their needs. “I have an excellent relationship with working with Katie [Tarr]…We are partners, and we want to make sure that everyone is taken care of,” Chase said. He added, “We’re all here for the same goal: the students. If it wasn’t for the students, we wouldn’t be here, right?” Tarr commented, “I feel like we’ve attempted to address what our concerns are…And brought the two parties that had issues together, in good Bryn Mawr fashion.”
The Bi-College News requested comment from the soccer team but have not yet received a response.
12/08 Update: This article was updated to include quotes from New Dorm student staff manager Hazel Nguyen.
