Geneseo students are upset with the news of Fusion dining hall closing at the end of spring 2020 semester. Although Geneseo will be expanding Starbucks in Fusion’s current location and implementing vending machine-type stations in Starbucks’ place, this modification will still decrease food options on campus.
With Mary Jemison being closed after 3 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends, the loss of Fusion will substantially decrease food options for students. The only remaining option for hot, healthy meals on central campus will be Letchworth dining hall. Arguably, Fusion and MJ offer the most options for hot, healthy meals and non-fried foods. While Geneseo plans to incorporate Fusion’s menu at MJ, the issue of MJ’s minimal operating hours still stands, with the only way to salvage the situation being to extend MJ dining hours.
Not only does Fusion have some of the most interesting food options on campus, but they also offer an array of vegetarian and vegan options including crumbled tofu, sesame tofu, falafel, vegetarian rice bowls and vegan cheeses, according to the Campus Auxiliary Services online menus. Hopefully, these options don’t disappear along with Fusion itself.
Another problem is that while this move is being made to help decrease wait times at Starbucks, if MJ hours are not extended, Letchworth and Red Jacket wait times will skyrocket with the overflow of old Fusion customers.
Geneseo is unclear about their plans for the seating area of the new and improved Starbucks, making it seem as if they haven’t considered it. The ambiguity of Geneseo’s renovation plans is frustrating to many students because these plans will severely affect student life. The lack of communication appears negligent and their decision to get rid of Fusion seems hasty.