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Penn State Eats Mobile Ordering Needs To Be A Permanent Fixture

There are several things that I wish to never see again once the coronavirus pandemic is over. Social distancing floor markers, unsanitized hands, and Facebook mask debates are all welcome to leave once we’re virus-free. However, there is one concept I wouldn’t mind seeing stick around on campus…

The Penn State Eats ordering app is the best thing to happen to Penn State Dining since the addition of mozzarella sticks. Since it was introduced in the fall, I have been amazed by its efficiency.

What used to be a half-hour wait for a cheeseburger at Flipps during the lunch rush has turned into a convenient system that allows students and Penn State Dining staff to get a head start on their orders so that they are ready upon arrival. Just yesterday I used the app to order a grilled cheese and received the text notification that it was done in under 10 minutes. For noon on a Tuesday, this speed is unheard of!

“What really helps us the most is the advance we get on orders,” said Sheila Cavanaugh, a cook at Market North Kitchen. “The students seem to really like it because there isn’t as much of a crowd.”

Penn State Eats has done an excellent job so far of preventing long lines in dining halls that could become dangerous opportunities for the transmission of COVID-19.

Every student and Dining worker has enough stress trying to go about their daily routine during the pandemic. The fear of catching or unknowingly transmitting the virus to others in a public setting can be stressful, no matter how many precautions an individual takes. The app does a great job of making something as simple as grabbing lunch as stress-free as possible during these uncertain times.

The service also takes a lot of the social anxiety out of getting food. Before you call me crazy, just think how many times you’ve replied “you too!” when a dining hall worker has said “enjoy your meal.” These awkward interactions have largely become a thing of the past now.

Tracking meal points is much easier now as well. By paying in the app, a student can clearly see their meal points total prior to the purchase and after. Gone are the days of straining your neck to see how many points remain on the little screen above the register after your card gets swiped.

The world is constantly becoming more digital. Students already utilize ordering apps for everything from getting groceries to scheduling appointments. While I’m sure the Penn State Eats service still ranks behind GrubHub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats, it has taken its place among the elites. Of course, the next step would be to implement direct delivery to dorms, but that is a job I wouldn’t wish on any Dining employee.

There is no shame in keeping the service once campus is more open, especially if Penn State plans on returning to in-person instruction next fall. Just as James Franklin brought Trace McSorley with him from Vanderbilt, Penn State Dining can, and should, bring Penn State Eats ordering into the future.

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About the Author

Jordan Mansberger

Jordan Mansberger is a senior at Penn State majoring in broadcast journalism. He is from Cassville, Pennsylvania. He is a huge Pittsburgh sports fan as well as his Denver Nuggets. When he's not working, he can be found instigating Twitter beef with Padres fans and Antonio Brown or practicing his sub-par golf game.

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