Probably the biggest rivalry within the Notre Dame family has even the most dedicated, loyal students going back on their long-time favorite.
South Dining Hall’s (South) renovations in honor of the facility’s centennial year in 2027 are disorienting for many residents of nearby residence hall quads, groups known to rarely visit North Dining Hall (North). Although the project boasts of future sleek redesigns and much-needed equipment updates, the construction seems to be drawing students to NDH, based on traffic and student opinions.
This disrupts the pattern of students who live close to North — who in years past may have opted for South during the few nice days of each semester, when they had the time, energy and light of day to take a stroll to the charming South. No longer.
Take this scenario, for example. If you were to magically spawn at both halls at 12:30 p.m. on a Tuesday or Thursday, lines for “Boom Boom” and Southwest salads would be drastically different. In South? Barren, maybe 10 people at most. At North? To the door and then some.
I have been to both dining halls at this time, and this is what I’ve noticed.
In the midst of what feels like too many changes at North, my vegetarian friend (who is a resident of East Quad) and I have begun only eating at South for lunch and dinner — even when my friends and peers haven’t. Previously, I went to South less than ten times per semester.
A friend and RA in West Quad said he is going to North more frequently now. He also said South “isn’t the same.”
South long upheld the claim that that its charm and aesthetic attracted more people, even from dorms closer to North. After all, it’s the “Rudy” dining hall, right?
Now, it seems like the charm isn’t strong enough to hold students. North has become the more accessible option to those who are still holding onto the traditions and expectations of South.
An article on student reactions to South’s renovations, published earlier this semester by The Observer, supports that some students, especially those with dietary restrictions, say there are fewer options.
But that’s something happening at both dining halls.
My vegetarian friend and I have noticed that avocado has disappeared at North’s breakfast. Personal pizzas haven’t returned. On top of that, growing lines frequently exacerbate already long waits.
Although there are grievances from many students in both dining halls, it seems odd that a generations-long rivalry can be shaken up with a two-year renovation project. The project is needed, of course. And it will certainly give much-needed improvements to a space that once looked straight out of the 1960s.
Looking to the future, I don’t think this trend will hold, especially when long, cold South Bend nights return. Eventually, students living close to South will likely not trek to North, and as renovations debut, North’s current long lines may shorten.
Redmond "Reddy" Bernhold is The Observer's opinion editor and a senior studying biochemistry and journalism. He originally hails from Minster, Ohio but calls Siegfried Hall his home on campus. When not writing, he explores South Bend coffee shops and thrift stores. You can contact Reddy at rbernho2@nd.edu.
