For quite some time now, a rumor has been going around campus that UW-La Crosse will be hiring a new dining company after this semester. As was assured by Mary Beth Vahala, the Associate Director at University Centers, that the rumor is true.

“We appreciate the hard work Sodexo has done, and we are looking forward to participating with Chartwells,” Vahala stated.

Sodexo is the current dining company that Chartwells will replace. The process of selection was put to companies who were interested in bidding for the position. However, Chartwells, the new dining company, is not necessarily new to this process or to UW-L’s campus, as it was the school’s dining company before Sodexo.

“Nourishing students is not only our business; it is our commitment to the communities in which we serve,” the mission statement of Chartwells proclaimed.

According to their website, Chartwells tries to buy from local farms as much as they are able, and they have fresh ingredients for the salad bar, as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables offered for students.

With this change, some adjustments will be made to Whitney Center. The Flying Star, now an all you can eat section, will be a retail area called Sono. There will also be no wall in between what is now the Flying Star and the sub shop, connecting the two rooms to allow people to walk between them. The food that Sono will carry will change with the semester, from Latin American to Mediterranean food.

The main dining room will keep a similar layout as it has now, save for some additions and changes to the menus, as well to the names of the different sections. For example, the ice cream area will be made into what will be called the Eagle Bakery, where all of the baked goods will reside. Another new addition, The Kitchen, will be added, which will have grilled and home-style meals. Pizza and sandwiches will still be offered, in addition to calzones. There will also be a vegan and vegetarian center, similar to The Wild Mushroom.

“The Cellar will stay like it is now, but some additions will be made to the menu,” Vahala said.

However, the other dining options in Cartwright Center in The Galley are up for a change from the decisions that were made by the students on the committee. There will be a place called Grill Mason that will grill burgers on sight, as well as a sandwich area and an area for Mexican food. Sushi will still be served in The Galley.

Despite all of the changes being made, all of the food services in Centennial Hall and Murphy Library, namely Starbucks and Murphy’s Mug, where many students get their caffeine fix, will remain the same in UW-L’s shift to Chartwells.