The entrance to the Hickey Dining Hall, located within the Magnano Center
David Scibilia/The BonaVenture
BY: CONAN LYNCH, STAFF WRITER
Brooke Piper, a freshman on the women’s lacrosse team at St. Bonaventure University, had a few hours after an evening practice to attend mandatory study-hall hours and eat dinner before returning to her dorm.
She studied in Bonaventure’s library before visiting the Hickey Dining Hall to refuel. It was her daily routine — until Bonaventure shortened the Hickey’s hours at the beginning of the Spring 2023 semester.
“Before [the change in hours], I would go to study hall and then go eat dinner at the Hickey, but now the Hickey closes early so I am unable to eat after study hall,” said Piper. “So, it’s a choice: do I eat or do my homework? And I don’t think that’s a good choice to have to make.”
Most students who live on campus are required to purchase a full meal plan to the Hickey. The dining hall used to be open until 10 p.m., but this semester it closes earlier, creating complications for some student athletes. The change coincided with the renovation and reopening of a common dining area on campus, the Rathskeller.
The hours of operation for the Rathskeller are from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Monday through Friday and noon to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.
Prior to the reopening of the Rathskeller, the Hickey would remain open until 10 p.m. during the week. With the option of more dining space, the Hickey now closes at 8 p.m. during the week because the Rathskeller stays open. This schedule change has affected the routines of student athletes who live on campus. Some student athletes find the new hours a little frustrating.
Students are also given the option to use their meal swipes and flex dollars to purchase food at the Rathskeller, but the only time the swipe option is available is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the week. However, the Rathskeller offers a smaller array of food options than the Hickey. And some athletes find that the food there is less filling than at the Hickey.
“Since the change in Hickey hours, I have not been able to eat a dinner suitable to give my body enough energy for long days,” said Allison Drake, a freshman on the women’s soccer team.
The women’s soccer team usually practices from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. according to Drake, and their practice ends right as the Hickey closes. This makes it difficult for the athletes to eat a nutritious dinner afterwards.
“The Rathskeller doesn’t have any healthy options for athletes. There also aren’t very many options for people using their meal swipes. They’ll have to pay out of pocket if they want something else all because they can’t go during the regular Hickey hours,” said Drake.
The food from the Rathskeller is also more tailored to that of a “pub or bar” according to Piper.
“It’s difficult to find good fuel for my body from the Rathskeller, considering it is more pub style food like chicken wings,” said Piper. “Sitting with grease in my stomach is not going to help me for the next day or week. The food tastes great for sure, but I try to be aware of how much I’m eating and pick other options. It would be my last resort after 8.”
The new hours of operation have left some student athletes feeling frustrated and hungry, despite the supposed improvement.
“I just don’t think that it was necessary to change the hours of the hickey,” said Piper. It really does a disservice to a lot of people, not only student athletes.”
lynchcb19@bonaventure.edu
