Brent Oswald, Medina branch manager of Hershey’s Ice Cream, serves Marilyn Ly, senior zoology and pre-veterinary major, and friend Krystal Besse, senior biology and pre-med major, at Risman Plaza at the Taste of Kent State yesterday afternoon

Credit: Steve Schirra

On-campus diners gathered at Risman Plaza from noon to 2 p.m. yesterday to offer a Taste of Kent State to students, faculty and staff.

Eugene Walters, marketing manager of Dining Services, said the goal of the event was to introduce people to the variety of diners and foods available on campus. Dining Services and Kent Student Center Programming collaborated to plan the event.

“Being the first year for it, we didn’t really know what to expect,” Walters said. “We got a lot of positive feedback from people.”

Walters said he heard many people say they tried new dishes from places they had not previously visited.

Jackie Kus, graduate student in higher education administration, was one of many students to try new foods.

“I never had any food from Quiznos,” Kus said. “I never wanted to pay for something and not like it.”

Kus said she usually eats at Einstein Bros. Bagels or Kent Market because they are conveniently located, and she is familiar with the food they serve.

Along with trying food from Quizno’s Subs, Kus also tried samples from A&W Restaurant.

“I would have never thought to go and get food from here,” she said, adding she will probably eat at different places now.

Students weren’t the only people taste testing.

“I think it is great,” Athletic Marketing Director Gail Moseley said about the event. “I’ve been here 15 years, and I didn’t realize we had all this stuff on campus.”

Autumn Piller, senior psychology major and member of Kent Student Center Programming, said she thinks this will help new students adjust to Kent State.

“When I was a freshman, I didn’t really know the food on campus,” she said.

After seeing the turnout yesterday, both Walters and Piller said they think Taste of Kent State was successful.

“I think you’ll see more people trying different foods,” Walters said.

Contact room and board reporter Stephanie Park at [email protected].