THUNDER BAY — Some students staying in residence at Lakehead University say a change in cafeteria operating hours will make coping with the COVID-19 pandemic even more difficult.
As of Wednesday, the residence cafeteria has changed its opening time from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The cafeteria, which is operated by food service provider Aramark under contract with the university, provides breakfasts, brunches and lunches between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and dinners between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
In a statement to Tbnewswatch, the university said the hours of operation were changed "to reflect and optimize the changing patterns of those using our food services."
But it's a disappointing change for students such as Paul Nunez, who came to Lakehead this year from Toronto to enroll in the education program.
"A lot of students already complained about the hours, but they're cutting instead of adding more...All of them hate the idea," Nunez said in an interview with Tbnewswatch.
Students in residence pay $5,130 for the All Access food plan, plus 800 "declining balance flex dollars."
This entitles them to three hot meals daily, continental breakfast to go, and the ability to use the flex dollars at the Starbucks location on campus, on retail items in the cafeteria, to order groceries or order meals-to-go online.
Nunez said that even before the change in the opening time, getting a hot breakfast before classes was a problem.
"If you [had] a class at nine, you [had] to skip breakfast," he said.
The university, Nunez said, has cited a lack of traffic between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. as a reason for the reduced hours.
"This encourages people to skip breakfast or spend extra money just so they won't be hungry in the morning. Students are ending up having to Uber Eats food or make-shift microwavable or unhealthy meals due to the food insecurity caused by the school."
Although there are no kitchens in the residences, students have the option to pick up a bagged continental breakfast from the cafeteria before 6:00 p.m. for consumption the next morning.
Nunez said some students are considering a petition against the change in the operating hours.
"Food insecurity is frustrating when we pay so much money to be living in residence," he said.
The main cafeteria at Lakehead remains closed due to COVID-19
In a statement to Tbnewswatch, the university said it and Aramark continue to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 on campus, and continue to "adapt and respond with the advice and direction from government and local health authorities."
The statement noted that the pandemic has significantly diminished the number of students, faculty and staff living and working on campus.
It added that "any students requiring special accommodations may reach out to Dining Services at any time."
Although Nunez said students participating in clubs or varsity sports face additional challenges getting access to the cafeteria, he acknowledged that alternate arrangements are available.
He's on the cross-country team, which practises from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. three days a week as well as Saturday.
"I used to just go hungry but they sent me an email saying they can just let me come and pick up food after, so it works for me."
The university's main cafeteria remains closed due to COVID-19 but the Starbucks location is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
