By Alex Gaughan

Students entering the IT Center from the south side of campus have been greeted by a wall of translucent tarps and construction equipment for the spring semester as the Miller Information Technology Center has undergone major renovations to accommodate McAlister’s Select.
The McAlister’s Select will finally open its doors on April 6, after efforts to modernize and unify the aging design of the IT Center forced a delay to the original launch date.
The upscale sandwich provider will host a three-hour grand opening on April 8.  Beginning at 11a.m. they will feature discounts on desserts and self-proclaimed famous sweet tea to rectify the casualties of the long awaited opening, as well as live music by local rock band See Emily Play.
District Manager for Sodexo, the company managing McAlister’s Select, Matti Verder is excited about the possibility of offering a dining experience so different from the conventional campus cache of Papa John’s, Wendy’s and Subway.
“You can create your own sandwiches, we have Panini style, and the McAlister’s Club is an especially popular choice. Side options include things like baked potatoes, salads and desserts. It’s very different from the typical college choices,” Verder said.
Sophomore English major Jared Luckett said he is glad those tarps are coming down soon.
“I have a class at the Miller building on Tuesday nights and it’s going to be nice to have a place to get a meal before class,” Luckett said. “I lived right down the road from the McAlister’s in Middletown and we would go there and get brownies and tea after school so I’m excited we’re getting one on campus.”
On the other hand, junior anthropology major Anthony Head, seemed less than enthused for the new option on campus.
“It will be nice for people who have class in the building but there is already a Subway, Wendy’s and Papa John’s. Tulip Café also has sandwiches. It seems like there are already enough options on campus for lunch choices,” Head said.
Verder thinks McAlister’s is different enough from the other options to join the list of venture’s competing for mouths of the university’s massive student body.
With an abundance of outlets and a distinctive design from the rest of campus, Verder believes McAlister’s will provide a unique experience for staff and students looking for a place to enjoy a high-end meal without leaving behind the conveniences of campus.