Rumors have been floating around campus regarding the fate of the Underground lunchtime dining option. Although the café-style setting, located in the lower area of Grier Hall, is certain to remain operating next semester for extracurricular organizations and group meetings to have a space to function. Some students have speculated that its Monday-through-Friday lunchtime meal alternative will no longer be available in spring 2008.

The Underground ceased to serve dinner beginning in spring 2007 after experiencing a dwindling number of meal attendees. Bruce Cvancara, director of food services, claims that, in similar fashion, the daily count of students partaking in the Underground’s present lunchtime dining service will be a vital determining factor in deciding whether such a service will be available second semester. As indicated by Cvancara, an average of 30 to 50 students are using the Underground lunch option every day; and, if the number falls below 30, this may merit the need to close down the Underground as a standard meal plan.

Offering one probable solution behind why business at the Underground has decreased so significantly over time, Cvancara stated, “When we went to milkshakes for cash equivalency [in Scotland Yard]…it got very popular downstairs and took some thunder from the Underground.” Still, Cvancara is hopeful the Underground may begin to succeed, as many may be drawn to it once the colder weather sets in, and once students begin to run out of Flex dollars.

One individual, however, is aiming to take an active role in keeping the Underground alive. For three weeks now, senior Ryan Bouwman has been presenting a petition (online initially and now in paper form) to the campus, in order to make people aware of the Underground’s potential end and to endeavor to keep it open.

Commenting on his own contact with Cvancara, Bouwman remarked, “According to Bruce [Cvancara], they have no plans on closing [the Underground], but I think he may be lying.”  Bowman is most concerned with what he views as a limited selection of dining options should the Underground be shut down, as he theorized, “I do not think they will put in another ‘on the go’ place until the population of the campus grows.”

Bouwman’s petition currently has approximately 40 names attached, and he is hoping to “see how far it [will] get off the ground.” Bouwman plans to advertise his efforts through flyers around campus, bulletins placed in the residence halls, attending residence hall meetings to discuss his cause and possibly hosting a door-to-door campaign for signatures in the future. Those persons interested in adding their names to Bouwman’s petition or who would like to join as a member of Bouwman’s promotional committee should contact him at rbouwman@monm.edu.

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