CMU Dining seeks student feedback on on-campus dining
Central Michigan University senior Vasundhara Shelke asks a question about the quality of training in the dining halls during the Student Government Association meeting in the Bovee University Center on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. Shelke claimed that she had witnessed several instances of food cross contamination when ordering vegan meals. (CM-Life | Kassidy Daniel)
Central Michigan University’s Dining Services heard students' concerns at the Student Government Association meeting on Monday, Oct. 8.
SGA President Zainab Naaz, and Vice President Fatima Malik said that the meeting's goal was to give students a platform to have their voices heard, so CMU Dining officials have a better understanding of what the students on campus would like to see.
"Each semester, our culinary team reviews the menus and makes adjustments based on, you know, the previous year's feedback, student needs, and we are also continuing to make those changes throughout the semester," Senior Marketing Director Amy Probst said.
Many students expressed frustration with CMU Dining during the meeting. Students like Vasundhara Shelke, chief justice of the judicial branch, said they are dissatisfied with the food and often feel disrespected by employees when trying to find meals in the dining hall that fit within their diet.
“I cannot eat it," said Shelke, when talking about the food served in the dining halls. "I get disgusted."
During Shelke’s time living on campus, she said she lost 30 pounds because the food that was provided did not align with her eating habits. She said that the food at CMU contributed to her decision to move off-campus. As a vegetarian, she would ask for her food to be prepared a specific way. She said that while dining employees prepared her meals, she watched them cross-contaminate her food with utensils used for other dishes.
“It happened five times," Shelke said. "I did talk to the person, and they were like, it’s fine, just eat.”
Probst said that while CMU Dining welcomed this feedback, she encourages students to use their Voice 2 Vision survey, provide feedback on the Dine on Campus App and leave a review with the HappyorNot tablets located at the exits of each dining hall.
“It goes way beyond just being in this room; we want to hear the different things that we can do to enhance your experience within dining,” said Ryan Ferguson, resident district manager.
CMU Dining has answered previous student concerns, like extending breakfast and dinner hours, adding berries at Dine and Connect and the Eater, and having healthier options available in Central Eats.
Earlier this spring, Senator Aiden Partenio pushed CMU Dining to open Merrill Virtual Food Hall during the weekends. CMU Dining said opening Merrill could affect the hours at both Dine and Connect and the Eatery. Additionally, Ferguson asked if students would like to see Merrill open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and that was well-received.
"We're evaluating this whole process to make sure that we're doing the right thing for the entire student body," said Ferguson.
Ferguson also said that there will be a new survey with CMU's Residence Life to see what changes the student body as a whole would like to see implemented.
Other Business:
The House and Senate did not meet after the questions for CMU Dining.
There will not be an SGA meeting next week due to Fall Wellness Break.
