(Montgomery Vanik / Fourth Estate)

Topics include sustainability and new restaurants on campus

BY MONTGOMERY VANIK, STAFF WRITER

The Student Culinary Council at Mason met on Oct. 15 to discuss several developments in campus dining, including new restaurant additions, sustainability milestones and digital innovations aimed at enhancing the student dining experience.

Among the most talked-about proposals was the potential addition of a Taco Bell and a Wendy’s to the Johnson Center, where most on-campus food vendors are located. Council members — who consist of Mason Dining employees — noted that these new dining options would expand meal variety and convenience for students who frequent the Johnson Center between classes.

A major topic discussed is a possible renovation of Southside, one of Mason’s primary dining halls, located on Wilkins Plaza. While no official timeline has been announced, the council said that student feedback will play a key role in shaping renovation plans.

A hot ticket item discussed was the rollout of the Tapin2 system, already installed at Southside and expected to expand campus-wide in the near future. The Tapin2 system allows students to order meals online then tap their Mason ID to retrieve food from secure lockers, which minimizes wait times and streamlines pickup. 

Mason Dining representatives described Tapin2 as “part of Mason’s broader effort to modernize campus dining through technology.”

In addition to these changes, the council celebrated a significant step toward sustainability. Soon, all of Mason’s dining halls will be Green Restaurant Certified, a certification that recognizes dining facilities that meet rigorous standards for energy efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable sourcing.

Council members encouraged students to stay engaged and voice their opinions about campus dining through upcoming surveys and future meetings. The next Student Culinary Council meeting is scheduled for November 12 at Ike’s, where updates on these initiatives and additional projects are expected to be discussed.

“[The Culinary Council] was a great opportunity to express my thoughts and concerns to the people in charge,” said freshman Caleb Beaver.

Students have been encouraged to fill out a survey they received through their email, which asks for opinions on campus dining options, menus and future improvements.