Shippensburg University

Search
Search
News
Multimedia
Sports
Ship Life
Opinion
Subscribe
Entertainment
Send a Tip
Podcasts
Donate

Shippensburg University

°
Full Forecast

Friday, July 11, 2025

The Slate

Subscribe

Print Edition

  • News
  • Opinion
  • Ship Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Multimedia
  • Send a Tip
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Ship Life
  • Multimedia
  • Podcasts
  • Special Issues
  • Send a Tip
  • Donate
Search

Subscribe

 

3/26/2019, 12:00am

Commentary: closing ‘the finer diner’ minimizes dining options

By Jenna Wise

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

If the Shippensburg University administration has its way, “the finer diner” may not exist for much longer.

Rumors that all or part of Kriner Hall may close — at least as a dining hall — have been circling for months now, and university officials have done nothing to put a stop to the questions of those who work and eat there.

These rumors proved to have at least some merit after The Slate staff discovered a January 2019 SU-funded study suggesting ways that Kriner’s main dining area could be turned into computer lab space.

It seems clear that this space would be used almost exclusively by the School of Engineering students, based on the fact that there’s a “School of Engineering” footer at the bottom of each page and two of the school’s faculty are listed as members of the project’s design team.

I loved eating at Kriner when I was just starting college and living in McCune Hall. I don’t really eat there anymore unless I am craving Papa John’s or a sub, simply because the hike to Kriner for fewer options than Reisner hardly seems worth it.

But there’s a lot to like. The small building has a lot of history tied to the campus and brings back good memories of my early college years.

If the administration wants to close Kriner, that’s its prerogative. With higher education funding as low as it is, cuts need to be made when logical. What I have a problem with is who this project would be helping, and the way that the administration has handled the possible change with students.

While I have no doubt that science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs are important, I don’t see the need for the School of Engineering to take common student space and turn it into something that solely benefits them. 

From where I am, there seems to be alternative options to shutting down Kriner dining and leaving us with essentially one dining hall on campus. Kriner could be expanded to make way for more food options, or even made into a 24/7 dining hall like Kutztown University has.

If the dining area is to be shut down, fine — but make the space into something that everyone can use.

The other concerning fact is that the administration has made no effort to get student feedback on possibly shutting down the dining hall. Considering that many of us have meal plans and live on campus, why wouldn’t a survey be sent out to determine the possible impact?

I said this before regarding vandalization of S.A.F.E.’s office door, and I’ll say it again — the lack of transparency in this administration over simple facts prevents each one of us on this campus from feeling as if we are a part of one community, contradictory to what President Laurie Carter has said.

The administration needs to start owning up to its actions and make us all feel a part of a decision-making process that will have the biggest impact on the people who are paying for them to work here in the first place.

Share



Related Stories

MSAQuilt_Jefferson.jpg

SU MSA director Diane Jefferson passes away at 72

By Evan Dillow

Shippensburg University student faces charges following assault in SU dorm

By Evan Dillow

DOGE spending cuts target AmeriCorps, impacting student volunteers and communities across the U.S.

By Evan Dillow


The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.


Most Popular


6/27/2025, 2:32pm

SU MSA director Diane Jefferson passes away at 72

By Evan Dillow


  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Work For Us
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Ship Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2025 The Slate

Powered by Solutions by The State News.