Eating at Commons

On August 1st, 2014 NKU opened the renovated Norse Commons. The new layout and building  looks absolutely beautiful. It is an all-you-can-eat dining option that contains 6 food stations. It was a $2 million project that made NKU students thrilled to start this new year. However, IS NORSE COMMONS TRULY THAT GREAT?

I asked Adrian Motyka his thoughts on Norse Commons. He stated,

"I have been living on campus for two years now. I was happy to see the change from the old Norse Commons to the new Norse Commons. The new building is beautiful and I am grateful for the new setting. However there are still multiple things that still bother me, such as the slow service!"

For one week, my friend Adrian and I would compile a list of things. We would eat at Norse Commons at least twice a day. We were determined to point out all the things the new Norse Commons lacked or needed improvement on. Here were some our findings:

1. The service is ridiculously slow!
During the one week I counted a total of 4 times I had to wait for a server to come to the station and serve me. I found myself waiting at the food station for someone to serve me. I remember an incident where I waited so long that I decided I would go back behind the counter and serve myself. Often I found myself waiting and would see a group of employees in the back talking to each other not acknowledging the hungry students waiting in line for their food.

2. No forks, knives, and spoons!
Occasionally we would find ourselves utensil-less. Different meals would call for the use of different utensils. What good does a tender prime rib do without a knife? I found myself getting frustrated having to walk to different utensil holders, just to find nothing in any of them! Why have all this delicious food when you cannot use anything to eat it with? Unfortunately, when there are utensils available, the utensils are never fully cleaned! Adrian often found the forks and knives he picked up still had food remnants on it.

3. Employees are rude!
Yes, everyone LOVES Mary Pat! However, one employee cannot carry the kindness for the whole team! As you walk into Norse commons you are usually greeted by Mary Pat. Mary Pat is a wonderful women who cares and greets students at the door. She always has a smile on and loves conversation. However, we noticed all the other employees have an attitude. Simple comments such as please and thank you, yes ma'am and no ma'am, or hello and goodbye are never acknowledged by the servers. I feel I only am allowed to talk to them when I need a specific food or specific amount of food.


Come on NKU! Make these changes and the New Norse Commons will live up to its potential!

-Jonathan Hoey