Eliminated and restricted seating in St. Joe’s dining halls and eating areas at the start of the 2021 semester are the result of new dining regulations in the City of Philadelphia that went into effect on Jan. 16.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health issued the regulations to help slow the spread of COVID-19. They include limiting indoor seating capacity to 25% occupancy, according to Matt Rankin, COVID-19 media relations assistant for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
In response, St. Joe’s temporarily eliminated seating in Campion Student Center, including both dining halls and at the tables across from Saxby’s, and shifted to grab-and-go service only, according to Director of Dining Kevin Bargeron, in a written response to questions from The Hawk. Seating in the Merion Hall Atrium outside of Ein- stein Bros. Bagels is limited, and the tables and chairs are spread out to encourage social distancing.
Bargeron wrote that university administrators are in continual contact with the city in order to keep up with ever-changing information regarding COVID-19 and regulations that impact the university.
“Leadership of the university, including SJU Dining, take part in a call each week with the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health where all universities/colleges in Philadelphia County come together to discuss the regulations and how to best implement them,” Bargeron said.
Other universities in the Philadelphia area are following similar guidelines. According to Villanova University’s dining website, limited seating is available in their dining halls, and take-out “is standard at all dining locations.”
Additionally, the University of Pennsylvania is not allowing any seating in their dining halls, serving all meals in to-go containers and “limiting the number of people who can be in the dining café at one time,” according to their website.
The university announced dining modifications for the fall 2020 semester on Jun. 23, 2020, which included a reduction of price for meal plans and the expansion of seating to Doyle Banquet Hall South.
In addition to the fall semester modifications, this semester the university added additional lighting and furniture on Villiger Lawn and on Barbelin Beach to facilitate outdoor eating and socializing. The tent on Villiger lawn is also an area for students to eat.
Rebecca Maurizi ’23 said the current lack of designated spaces for students to dine inside on campus has been an adjustment.
“I live in Ashwood, so I don’t really have a dorm that I can go back to easily, sit down and eat,” Maurizi said. “So I’m stuck with sitting outside, especially when it’s really cold.”
Although Ellie Gallo ’24 understands the dining and seating regulations the university has put in place, sitting in the dining hall was one of the only times she would socialize with her close friends.
“If we want to hang out [now], we have to find something to do off campus or may be outside, but it’s freezing outside,” Gallo said. “It just doesn’t really give me a good opportunity to spend good quality time with my friends.”
Kevin Villec ’23, dining chair for University Student Senate, said he has communicated with Bargeron about the impact of the new regulations and other initiatives SJU Dining has taken.
“We’re planning a meeting, hopefully this week, to have another look at all the changes,” Villec said. “Hopefully, as virus rates start to go down, we’ll start to get more seats available in Campion and DB, and as the semester goes along, we’ll be able to use the tent more on Villiger lawn and eat outside more at the tables.”
Kaylah Hernandez ’23 contributed to this story.
