SPEA class studies Union dining options

A coffee shop, booths and home-cooked meals top the list of student wants at the Indiana Memorial Union, according to a study by a School of Public and Environmental Affairs class.\nSPEA adjunct professor Bob Boch's class conducted the survey at the Union's request.\n"They wanted to see what the customer actually wanted," Boch said. "We did it because I wanted them to get practical experience of how you find out what a consumer really wants as opposed to what we think they really want."\nAlthough no significant changes are planned, the Union wanted the information for future food service improvements, IMU Director of Services Loren Rullman said in an e-mail.\n"We know trends and interests change constantly and rapidly," he said. "We like the idea of giving students and classes a chance to practice various research tactics in and with the IMU."\nThe class interviewed focus groups made up of undergraduate and graduate students who live on campus, off-campus and in greek houses. More than 730 students answered the 80 questions about what they like to eat and changes they want to see in the IMU. \nSurprisingly, Boch said, students' tastes were less exotic than the class predicted. Tacos, pizza and deli sandwiches were among the most demanded foods, while less than 20 percent showed interest in organic, vegetarian and vegan options. Low-carb foods made the bottom of the list.\n"We expected them to be more interested in more unusual, more exotic-type cuisines," Boch said. "We did expect them to want to change the décor."\nStudents said they would like to see a more relaxed dining area with booths in the Union's food court, instead of the current tables-and-chairs set up. One possible change of atmosphere suggested in the surveys is a coffee shop for students, similar to Starbucks but independent from the popular chain.\n"The clear majority (was) very interested in having a coffee shop in the Union," Boch said. "It was especially prevalent among underclassman because they aren't 21. I think it gives them a place to go."\nTapping into a new market was one of the IMU's goals for the survey, said Steve Richards of the IMU Catering and Dining Services. \n"Our business drops at night and so we're trying to find out, what do kids want to do at night?" he said. "Let's face it, a lot of them go down to the bars. Is there anything we could do here at the Union that would bring more people here at night?"\nA coffee shop might be the answer to the Union's nighttime slump, as well as a change in payment options. Currently, the Union does not accept credit or debit cards Boch said the survey found that students like the Union Plus plan because points roll over from semester to semester, but the vast majority would prefer a unified, campus-wide plan with one card and one set of points. \nRichards said credit card acceptance is one area the Union is particularly interested in pursuing.\n"We realize that the credit card/debit card thing is something we really need to look at," Richards said. "We do not have the capability of doing it right now, so there you have to make a major investment. You could be talking ($40,000) to $50,000 to do this."\nDespite the expense, Boch said the Union is likely to take students' dependence on plastic into consideration.\n"Students are becoming a cashless society," Boch said. "That's the way the world is today. If the businesses don't (change), they're going to lose customers."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Colleen Corley at ccorley@indiana.edu.