To determine what University of Memphis students want to eat on campus, the University Dining Services Committee will do what any committee would do - conduct a survey.
Starting this fall, students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to give their opinions on what restaurant choices will go in the new University Center.
A campus-wide electronic survey will provide administrators with more student input than a standard committee, said associate dean of Residence Life and Dining Danny Armitage.
While The University Center will not open until fall semester of 2009, Armitage said they need feedback now to consider spacing, utilities, market research, contractor services and other criteria before making the final choices for the UC.
"The first stage is to get good, strong recommendations," Armitage said. "We have to make decisions by the end of October and that gives us less than two years.
"There are 14 or 15 national brands that we're looking at."
They include Burger King, Arby's, Sbarro Pizza and Panda Express, Taco Bell, among others.
Some students, like criminal justice graduate student Lauren Moss, said she is happy with the current food choices but would want to take part in the survey if only to suggest healthier alternatives.
"I normally eat at Home Zone for the home cooking, but I didn't like the choices today," she said. "I don't care for fast food - it's not really healthy, so I try to avoid it."
Moss said she missed the make-your-own pasta bar that used to be in Tiger Den.
Andrew Rhodes, a senior hospitality and resort management senior, said he thought there should be more healthy options.
"Everything's fried or deep-fried," Rhodes said. "I like the home cooking - I get so sick of fast food."
"When you're on a college budget, you eat a lot of fast food so it's good to get a home-cooked meal," Rhodes said.
He said that he rarely ate at Tiger Den because he lives close to The University but that it was sometimes more convenient to eat off campus.
Chuck Wigington said his company, Aramark, which is contracted by The University to provide food services on campus, considers student feedback throughout the year. Wigington is the director of food services for Aramark.
"We go all out to meet the needs of the students," Wigington said. "We can always do better, but we're pretty good."
A pasta bar will open in the FedEx Institute food kiosk and a baked potato bar will open in the Tiger Den for the start of fall semester, Wigington said. Additionally, the Einstein Bros. Bagels in McWherter Library will open later in the semester.
Wigington said one of the newest trends was organic food but said he was not sure if it would be popular among University of Memphis students.
"Students eat what tastes good," Wigington said. "They won't eat it just because it's good for you." Wigington said that some ingredients, like a certain brand of veggie burgers, were not always available in the region.
"We're not tied to any one choice. Gourmet salads are popular now and as long as they're popular, we'll provide them. If it slows down, we'll put something else out," Wigington said.
Nathan Davis, a senior education major, said he visits Tiger Den almost daily during the semester.
"I'm not going to lie to you. I get a burrito at that burrito place in Tiger Den every day," Davis said. "I wouldn't eat at Taco Bell because they're everywhere."
"It's not fresh," he said of Taco Bell. "They squirt it out of a tube. At Tiger Den, you can see what they're doing and what your food looks like. Plus, you can talk to the people there. They're cool. They listen to your problems."
Davis said that Taco Bell might be cheaper but that they use cheaper ingredients.
"Memphis is a fat city," Davis said. "We need fresh stuff."
