Due to an increase in late-night disturbances at Bear’s Den, Student Union’s Food Committee has suggested a reduction in evening hours – a move that could leave many South 40 residents with grumbling stomachs late at night.

According to Kathy Carmody, the general manager for Bon App‚tit, a far greater number of disturbing incidents have occurred this year than in the past.

She describes incidents including students “drinking.people fighting.food fights, and it seems to be going on a regular basis.”

Such incidents have posed difficulties for students who are trying to eat at Bear’s Den late at night, as well as for the staff.

The suggestion to change the hours at Bear’s Den, which currently stays open until 3 a.m. on weekends, came primarily from the Student Union Food Committee, a group consisting of representatives of the student body, University administration representatives, the University nutritionist and Bon App‚tit managers and chefs.

The committee meets on a weekly basis and has an advisory role for food services. Chaired by sophomore Timothy Ingalls, the committee works to address any pertinent dining issues, and during the past few weeks has been discussing the implications of recent disturbances occurring at Bear’s Den.

Most of the information regarding these incidents has come from the managers, who are on duty at Bear’s Den until it closes each night. In addition, security reports that the University receives have provided another source of information about these episodes.

No one is quite sure why the incidents have increased to such a great degree this year.

As Vice Chancellor for Students Paul Schimmele noted, “There is no easy answer for why it happens. It is a small number of people making a bigger problem for others.”

Although the Food Committee and student leaders have suggested a reduction in Bear’s Den’s hours as a manner of addressing this issue, Carmody insists that Dining Services does not intend to pursue such drastic measures in the near future.

Friday and Saturday nights provide some of Bear’s Den’s peak hours, and late-night hours at the venue also give students a place to eat when everything else is closed.

Currently, the Food Committee and the administration are trying to get the word out to students about the potential implications of their late-night behavior and to make the student body aware of future consequences.

“It’s an issue up for debate if things don’t change,” said Carmody.

Schimmele has already observed some notable changes, asserting, “In fact, since students have begun to discuss this, student behavior seems to be improving. That, of course, is the best possible solution.”

In addition to the suggestion to reduce hours, the Food Committee has generated several other suggestions for dealing with such behavior.

As Schimmele explained, “Some included photographing ‘problem people’ for identification, asking students to get involved in ‘self-policing,’ using Bear patrol, RCD involvement, floor education and discussions and many more.”

According to Schimmele, it is quite possible that simply acknowledging this behavior as a serious issue will prove powerful enough to alter the situation on its own.

“If the dialogue on campus continues, maybe this issue is in the past,” said Schimmele. “I am confident that students will continue to help solve these and other dining issues.”

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