The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 1, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 5, 2001 Page: 3 of 15
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The University News
News
September 5, 2001 3
ARAMARK serves new items, hires new director
Rathskeller changes look, offers new pricing plans, expands payment options
by Sarah Gaunt
Editor in Chief
A new food service director and a new
look for the Rathskeller are two major
changes to the University of Dallas dining
experience this year.
John McRae became UD's new food
s
service director in August, replacing A.J.
DeFalco, who received a promotion.
"There have been many changes made
in the Rat, and there may be some future
changes upstairs," McRae said. "I hope to
liven things up a little so that eating here
is not monotonous."
The Rat no longer has the Grill, where
hamburgers had been prepared, or the
Wok, where Chinese food was served.
The Grill and Wok items are served in the
cafeteria.
Three new stations, Tortilla Fresca,
Montague's Deli and Bene Pizzeria, are
featured in the Rat this fall.
Hand-made tortillas and salsas, as well
as quesadillas, fajitas and burritos are
served at Tortilla Fresca, McRae said.
At Montague's Deli, students can build a
sandwich, and at Bene Pizzeria, they can
find New York style pizza or a variety of
pastas.
"The freshmen are impressed by the Rat,
and the returning upperclassmen are sur-
prised and excited by the changes," McRae
said. "The new look is really great."
Another addition to the Rat is a con-
venience store, which McRae says will
accommodate students in the dorms who
do not have a car.
"Until now, students have had to drive
a long way from campus. Now there is
a quick and easy way to pick up things
like toothbrushes right on campus using
declining balance or a credit card," he said.
"Items like these are meant to complement
those in the bookstore."
For the first time, food in the Rat can
be purchased by credit card, which gives
students another payment option. The Rat
will now accept Visa and Mastercard.
"Students can also add money to their
declining balance using credit cards. That
makes it much simpler for them and their
parents," McRae said.
A trial policy allowing students inside
the Rat to study and have a light breakfast
begins this semester.
The Rat has customarily opened at 11
a.m. and served lunch and dinner. Now
students, especially those who live off
campus, will have a place to grab a simple
breakfast before class, McRae said. The
Rat is also wireless internet-ready, which
makes it easy for students to bring their
laptops and get online.
Unitl Sept. 15, McRae is offering a spe-
cial on declining balances. If a student adds
$50 to his balance, he will receive an ad-
ditional $ 10. If a student adds $100, he will
receive $20. Students can also purchase a
31-meal commuter card and receive a free
declining balance of $20.
Though the new year has brought
changes to dining, McRae said traditions
and events long a part of UD will remain.
"We'll have Mardi Gras and midnight
breakfast," he said, "and I have heard that
Groundhog Day is not just a day here, it is
more like a week."
New associate dean focuses on students needs
by Julie Danalier
Managing Editor
Filling the vacancy created
when Sarah Carda left last De-
cember, Bro. Charles La Tour,
O.R, became the new associate
dean of Student Life this sum-
mer.
Bro. Charles also brought
with him an assistant, a 10 week-
old Boston Terrier named Lula
Belle.
"I want to make Lula the school
dog. She gives Student Life new
character, and students are already
noticing her," Bro. Charles said.
Aside from Lula's presence
and a little remodeling, no real
changes have been made to the
department.
"You can't come into an insti-
tution and assume that you know
what is best and start changing
things,"Bro. Charles said., "I want
to meet with students and work
with them to bring a full student
life experience here."
For the first three months, he
wants to attend as many school
meetings and activities as possible
to learn about the students and
what they want from the Student
Life office.
"The college experience is
about academics, but it is also
about developing
innate leadership
skills. The Church
and outside com-
munities need
leadership, and I
want to help stu-
dents make those
connections," he
said.
Bro. Charles
entered the Do-
minican order at
33 and has spent
the last five years
at the Aquinas In-
stitute of Theol-
ogy in St. Louis.
He graduated
from Purdue with
a B.S. in Child
Developmental
Psychology and
went on to get a
law degree at Bos-
ton College.
"I spent three months working
for a firm in New York, and then
I quit," he said.
After leaving the law profes-
sion, he began teaching at an
inner city Catholic high school in
Boston, an experience he says was
like "coming home."
He has worked as the dean of
student life at a middle school/
high school in Miami and was a
housemaster at a boarding school
in Portsmouth, R.I. He has done
some national consulting and led
conferences and workshops for
students to develop leadership and
communication skills.
Dr. Fred Zuker, dean of Enroll-
ment and Student Life, said Bro.
Charles has a great background
with students, and his legal edu-
cation will be important to the
department as well.
"They were fortuitous situa-
tions that brought the Domini-
cans, including Bro. Charles, to
UD, " Dr. Zuker said.
The interviewing process for
the position began last December,
and Bro. Charles visited the Uni-
versity at that time.
"I wanted this job more than
you can possibly imagine," Bro.
Charles said. "I'm big on com-
munity, and I felt it was strong
here both academically and spiri-
tually. "
Working to bring the academic
and spiritual aspects of the school
together is important to Bro.
Charles.
One of his goals is to help
students integrate their faith,
personal life and academics to
achieve a Catholic education.
"I believe that if I'm a child of
God, I have a duty to develop my
whole self to reflect God's pres-
ence in my life," he said
Bro. Charles has spent the last
two weeks setting goals for the
department and himself, ensuring
that his goals are in tune with the
goals of the university
He wants to set goals for stu-
dents as well. Helping students
make better choices is central to
the position.
"I really do believe that if stu-
dents know you believe in them,
and you raise the bar, they will
meet your expectations and even
surpass them,"he said.
For Bro. Charles, the position
is not a job, "it's a ministry."
Working as a minister to others
is important to Bro. Charles, and
he feels blessed to have found UD
as a new spiritual home.
"I have fun when I work be-
cause I love what I do," he said.
Bro. Charles will have a lot to
do this year. In addition to his new
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Gaunt, Sarah. The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 1, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 5, 2001, newspaper, September 5, 2001; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201342/m1/3/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Dallas.