By John Ostapowicz, Jacqueline Arroyo and Nicarlyle Hanchard / The Jambar
Home to a majority of Youngstown State University’s student activities, food options and social areas, Kilcawley Center renovations will impact students in various ways.
The facility will undergo a food provider transition, from current provider Chartwells Dining Service to AVI Fresh starting May 5, when construction is scheduled to begin.
As part of the transition, several popular campus dining spots — including Dunkin’, Wendy’s, Jamba Juice and Pete’s Treats — will close.
Sarah McCosby, freshman dental hygiene student, expressed concern about rising food costs and how construction will interfere with her ability to traverse campus this fall.
“[The reconstruction] takes away most of the dining options that are included with the meal plan which could ultimately make eating on campus more expensive,” McCosby said.
Although other food options remain on campus, some lack the convenience of Kilcawley’s central location. Alternatives such as Chiptole, Subway, Hot Head Burritos and Jimmy John’s are spread across different ends of campus, making it difficult to get lunch in between classes.
However, when it came to breakfast, Dunkin’ was the only option for some students to grab coffee, donuts and breakfast sandwiches.
James Keys, junior criminal justice major, said he frequents Kilcawley for Dunkin’. He said that losing it will feel strange since it provided a quick, on-the-go breakfast.
“Sure there is Pressed [Coffee Bar & Eatery] and StoneFruit [Coffee Co.], but those are out of the way for most of us walking through the middle of campus. Pressed really isn’t on-the-go either like Dunkin’,” Keys said. “And Chipotle doesn’t open till 10 or 11 a.m., so why get rid of the fast and simple breakfast options right away.”
Additionally, students will have to find other areas to study and socialize. The William F. Maag Jr. Library, Silvestri Hall and DeBartolo Hall, among others, are listed on the Kilcawley Center renovations website as available meeting or event spaces.
Ana Torres, head of library services and operations and co-director of Maag Library, said the library will continue offering rooms and spaces to students. She said she hopes that students continue to see the library as their second home.
“We see a lot of, especially commuter students, or students who live in the dorms and want to have another place to get away where they can study and relax, they use the library for that,” Torres said. “We will be removing the shelving [on the main floor] over the summer and we are in the process of getting quotes for new furniture to add more seating in those areas.”
There are other rooms on the main floor open to students. Torres said, however, that some rooms have pre-existing reservations or operate on a first-come basis.
In the spirit of change, Torres said the library is transitioning to a new information library system. Ohio Library Information and Information Network, the library’s current system, will be replaced by Alma in several phases. As of May 23, OhioLINK will pause operations to facilitate the transfer.
“I would urge students and faculty who need to borrow materials from OhioLINK to do so by May 23 because the lending and any renewals will pause May 23 and come back sometime in July,” Torres said.
She said the collections held by Maag Library will still be available to students and faculty, as well as the inter-library loan system.
In preparation for finals week, the library will extend its operating hours. Beginning April 25-26, the library will be open until 9 p.m. As for April 27-30, the library will be open until midnight.
