This semester, there are a lot of “new normals”  to get used to while here at Clemson. One of the major changes is dining operations. Unlike upperclassmen, freshmen are experiencing an incredibly altered dining experience. All three of the dining halls are operating with a reduced capacity based upon their respective total capacity. Some people, likely freshmen or people living on campus with unlimited meal plans, have scheduled “priority seating” at different dining locations. This means that if the dining hall is near max capacity, people who are scheduled to eat there at that time will be given priority. To-Go options are also available at McAlister Dining Hall and Schilletter Dining Hall, but not at the Douthit Community HUB. As a continuing student living on campus, I decided to go to each dining hall to explore this altered dining experience for myself so I could share what is different about the current dining situation. 

Firstly, the Community HUB at Douthit Hills. The line into this dining hall follows the stairs, with spots marked off to follow social distancing guidelines. Once on the top floor, students must scan their ID and potentially show their COVID-19 Schedule depending on the occupancy at that time. The stations still exist, and each station features markers for social distancing. The biggest change was that instead of choosing an entree and making each meal to order, stations are now offering two options which include these things. For example, at the salad station, the two options were the Asian Salmon Salad and the Southwestern Chicken Salad. Please be mindful that “create your own” options are still listed on the online menus; however, they are not listed on the physical menus in the dining hall. Picky eaters may want to reference the menus for the respective stations before they go to Douthit in case they do only have the options listed at each station. After either eating your meal there or if you’re taking it to go, you exit the door opposite the entrance and head back down the stairs. There is no separation between students who are dining in and those who are taking meals to-go. Douthit does have several vegetarian options

Next up, Schilletter Dining Hall in the horseshoe. When you walk in, multiple lines indicate where to go if you are dining in or taking your food to-go. You pick your respective line and scan your I.D. then follow the socially distanced dots. The menu is posted throughout the line to enable the line to move quickly. There are several stations and a list of the food items offered. You can pick and choose what you do and don’t want as you go through. In the end, you put your boxes in a bag and get a bottle of water then continue to the exit. The options are not as extensive as they were in the past, and movement throughout the dining hall is limited. When I went, there were several options for entrees but not many side options. You can select as many options as you want, but many do not go together which is something to keep in mind. The service was quick, and it was nice to know what you want before you’re at the front of the line. It seems like the menus are different for to-go and dine-in options, which may change with time. For example, the website listed a soup option for dine-in which was not available in the to-go line. Picky eaters may want to check both the dine-in and to-go menus before they eat here. The to-go line was restricted so that you did not end up interacting with those dining in, and it also minimized overall contact with others. 

Finally, McAlister Dining Hall in Core Campus. It is important to note that the only entrance is located across from the post office; the doors by Which Wich are solely used for exiting the dining hall. There are several different stations open, and you follow the dots on the floor to enter each respective station. As with the other dining halls, there are spaces marked for social distancing. You can say what you do and do not want at some of the stations. Everything comes in individual boxes and there are bags available at stations around the dining hall. Some stations had a longer wait than others, but overall the lines moved quickly. The exit can be found by the doors next to Which Wich. There is no separation between those dining in and those getting their meals to-go. Overall, this dining hall had the most options available, with some stations even featuring multiple items. This would likely be the best for picky eaters, but they should consult the menus online before going. McAlister Dining Hall also featured gluten-free and vegan options. 

Overall, while the dining experience is different, it is not inherently bad. It will be very important for students to check the menus for each place as well as their schedules before heading to any dining hall. The food, overall, was similar to previous semesters; however, there were fewer options all around. All three dining options are still good, but it is important to keep an eye on the capacities of each before going to any of the dining halls. It is important for students to make smart choices when choosing a dining hall, and those with times provided on their My.Clemson app should do their best to utilize those times for quicker dining experiences all around.