University dining has been working with Student Government officials to extend dining hall hours, a project carried over from last year’s Student Government.

Former Student Body President Will Quick began working to extend dining hall hours and now, executive cabinet member Kim Moser, along with Student Body President Bobby Mills are working with University Dining to come to an agreement.

Mills said SG conducted surveys over the summer and one main complaint from students was the dining hall hours. He said Moser and University Dining Business Officer Randy Lait began writing the proposal in the summer.

According to Lait, the group is still not sure exactly what they’re going to do.

“The original request was to extend hours at Fountain from Monday through Thursday until 9 p.m.,” he said.

Lait said that, of course, becomes a bigger idea.

“If we did it at Fountain, the students at Clark would expect the same thing,” he said.

Mills will meet with Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs of University Dining Art White to discuss the issue this week.

He said the proposal includes options to extend all dining hall hours to 9 p.m., extend them at Wolves’ Den only, extend them only at Fountain Dining Hall or a mixture of any of those.

He said depending on the final decision on the specifics of the hours extension, Dining will then determine whether or not the price of meal plans needs to increase.

According to Lait, he has always received requests to extend the hours on Central Campus, so extending the hours at the Wolves’ Den in Talley is a possible option. But, most of the dorms surround Fountain Dining Hall, so that is a possible option as well.

He said one option is to have dining extend the full dinner menu for one hour and then have a “fast-track” menu of less options until 9 p.m.

Lait said he thinks students will expect a full menu though when coming into the dining halls.

Mills said the dining staff has been very willingness to discuss the request.

“Once Art and I come to an agreement, we’ll implement it for the fall 2008,” Mills said.

According to Mills, extending the hours will benefit students who are really involved around campus and have club meetings later in the evening.

Lauren Stark, a sophomore in environmental design in architecture, said she would love an extension in dining hours as seen in a previous Technician story.

She said she never had time to eat with her classes, club volleyball and her sorority obligations with Delta Zeta.

“I’m doing every possible thing. It never ends until 10 p.m.,” she said.

Mills echoes Starks’ statement.

“That’s the one thing I remember when I was out campaigning was kids were all excited about the extended dining hall hours,” Mills said.