Students can test the new All-You-Care-to-Eat dining model in the food tent on Alumni Mall, which charges students a certain amount per meal upon entry.
Ashley Carcara | Loyolan
As renovations begin on LMU’s Lair Marketplace, students are adjusting to a temporary outdoor dining arrangement that has impacted daily routines, food variety and the overall campus dining experience.
The University has replaced the campus’s main dining hall with a dining tent on Alumni Mall while renovations occur. Various food trucks are also brought in each day that accept LION Dollars. The transition is happening just weeks before the conclusion of the semester — have begun on April 26 and running until August 2026 — causing different reactions from students navigating limited food options and upcoming changes to LMU’s dining system.
The announcement for renovations in the Lair came from a January 2026 LMU Newsroom article, where the University announced it would be transitioning to an all-you-care-to-eat (AYCTE) model. They wrote that the renovations would help LMU Hospitality to “introduce new menu options, enhanced service styles and improve the overall dining experience for students.”
The March 17 release went into further detail about the planned upgrades to the Lair and Malone Student Center. In order to accommodate the new AYCTE meal swipe system that LMU plans to implement in the fall, the Lair entrance will be relocated farther into the Malone hallway. Additionally, in order to establish a “secure perimeter” for students dining under the new system, outdoor seating around the Lair will also be modified.
Many students reported their former experience with the Lair as convenient but repetitive, with complaints about food quality and little variety even before renovations began. Zoe Stack, film and television production major, said the dining experience has declined compared to the previous years.
“Last year was better than this year,” said Stack. “It’s very hit or miss … it’s just not ideal. There’s not a lot of variety.”
Stack added that she thought it was odd for renovations to start so close to the end of the semester rather than starting over summer vacation.
Students also had different opinions on LMU’s proposed switch to the AYCTE meal swipe system. Meal swipes are prepaid entries for AYCTE dining, while dining dollars are a dollar-for-dollar debit system for purchases at on-campus dining locations. Meal exchanges are a category of meal swipe, which can be used for a preset combo at select campus retail locations. Dining dollars are a semester cycling allowance. While some believe the shift will benefit students who eat larger servings, others are unsure how the system will operate.
“I don’t get how it’s gonna work,” said Tyler Kunz, film and television production major. “Part of what made the Lair so great was you could walk in and just grab something small. but if it’s going to swipes now, I don’t want to use a whole swipe just to get a bottle of water.”
Other students questioned whether on-campus dining locations are prepared for the transition to meal swipes in the fall — and if students are prepared to make the switch.
“I feel like the majority of the people are left in the dark on how we’re supposed to switch to this new system,” said Sienna Raviruchiphun, animation major. “I feel like they should at the very least teach us or give a memo on how to use it.”
Food trucks surround the front of the School of Film and Television to provide more options for students during the Lair closure, though some believe a lack of variety was already present on campus.
Ashley Carcara | Loyolan
Despite concerns surrounding the dining changes, some students thought the food trucks were a good addition to campus. According to Raviruchiphun, they have contributed to offering some variety during this transition.
“The food trucks are nice,” said Raviruchiphun. “I feel like food trucks are an interesting, new addition to the school.”
[Photo Caption: Food trucks surround the front of the School of Film and Television to provide more options for students during the Lair Marketplace closure, though some believe a lack of variety was already present on campus.]
However, a number of students claimed that the former dining hall’s convenience and variety were not entirely replaced by the interim arrangement. Concerns regarding long lines, repetitive options and limited hours were common feedback from students.
“I think it’s as good of a replacement as it can get … although … the lines are long, and I don’t see a lot of good breakfast options,” said Stack.
Students living on campus — particularly freshmen those without kitchens — say the limited selection has made meals more difficult.
“I’m hoping the food gets better … that’s all freshmen can eat when you don’t have a kitchen … that’s your breakfast, lunch and dinner,” said Stack. “If it’s not good, you don’t really have any other option besides not eating or DoorDash.”
While some campus dining locations remain open during renovations, students expressed frustration over the limited food variety. Kunz had also mentioned that dining locations across campus often feel repetitive despite offering different venues.
“It’s literally just, like, burgers and fries everywhere and sandwiches,” said Kunz. “So I feel like they should have more options.”
“The food is definitely repetitive, and it didn’t really change that much,” said Bobby Seater, film, television and media studies major. “It was good that there were options, but it didn’t feel like there were enough.”
As the semester ends, students will continue to get their food on campus from the dining tent and surrounding food trucks while the Lair is under renovation — set to be finished at the end of summer. Yet, the concerns and feedback are mounting, with students continuing to show their frustrations over the perceived lack of variety, communication and the difference in the new dining plans on campus.
Ultimately, the success of the meal swipes comes down to how LMU adapts to the major changes implemented in on-campus dining in the fall — and how students react to the new AYCTE plan across campus.
Dining and Cooking