Aside from the St. John’s rebranding that took place this summer, the University underwent several on-campus makeovers and added new features to students’ dining options and technological services.
Brij Anand, vice president for campus facilities and services, told the Torch details about several new dining additions that students can enjoy beginning this fall –- including the much-anticipated Red Mango shop coming to campus.
The Torch first reported about the University’s negotiations to bring Red Mango on campus last spring. Anand said the finishing touches are being made to the yogurt-and-smoothie store which will be located in St. Augustine Hall.
Along with a Red Mango, University officials said the Red Storm Diner in St. Vincent’s Hall is being converted into a retro-style 1950s diner that will have shakes, burgers and breakfast, and have flexible hours to better meet students’ demands during the semester.
The Marketplace in Montgoris will also have an updated look and increased assortment of offerings including hot foods for lunch or dinner. The dining hall will also be open until 10 p.m. on Sundays.
The Law School Café, which is in its final stages of construction, will have a brick oven pizza concept, New York style deli, a separate Starbucks Coffee section and refurbished dining area.
Chef Jet and Modern Asian Kitchen, will replace the Native Spice in D’Angelo Center, and Innovation Kitchen and Sono Celebrate Latin will be found in Marillac.
In addition, 10 premium swipes will allow students with resident-style meal plans to have extra flexibility to receive meal exchanges when otherwise not allowed and participate in premium dining events each semester.
The school also expects students to enjoy faster Internet service on campus and more flexibility with their daily endeavors.
VP and Chief Information Officer of Information of Technology, Joseph Tufano, said the network infrastructure will increase to two 1G circuits, allowing for quicker web surfing and better video streaming.
He said there also will be 35 new computers in labs or classrooms throughout campus, high definition and improved wireless services to residence halls, and students will be equipped with more disk storage in the new Microsoft Office 365 e-mail.
Beginning this semester, the $40 printing allowance can now be used at copy machines in addition to being used at the various print locations around campus.
The STJ2GO mobile application was released earlier in the summer but Tufano pointed out that it’s still under development.
However, its online food ordering feature will be “fully operational” two or three weeks into the semester, according to Anand.
The feature will permit students and faculty to order food from any web-enabled device in advance and pick it up at express stations at the Subway in Marillac, D’Angelo Center Deli, Red Storm Diner and the Law School Deli and Grill stations.
Other improvements on the University’s Queens campus include: the track by DaSilva Field which is being repacked with a new base and asphalt, refurbished classrooms, improved reliability of electrical services to academic facilities and St. Albert’s science labs, a new research lab for the School of Pharmacy, and the newly redone Career Services Office, which has moved next to Sun Yat Sen Hall.
Anand said plans were also approved for a new College of Professional Studies-designated area for the second floor of the St. Augustine Library. It will have a technology hub sporting the latest equipment for students and faculty.
With CPS moving out possibly by Spring 2014, Bent Hall will become the focus of the Tobin College of Business.
