New Entropy+ open for Homecoming

The new Entropy+ convenience store opened Wednesday next to Merson Courtyard in the University Center. The store features all the packaged products available in the old Entropy, such as cookies, canned soups, cereal, and bottled drinks, and also has a local produce section featuring a variety of fruits and vegetables and an expanded selection of organic, kosher, and gluten-free products.

Carnegie Mellon’s Housing and Dining Services and the students of the Dining Advisory Committee began discussing the expansion of Entropy in the fall of 2006, according to Chris Fitz, resident district manager of university dining.

“Some of the topics and issues raised in reference to the Entropy space were size and traffic flow, congestion at the coffee area, requests for additional offerings such as fresh produce and quality grab-and-go items, and an overall need for a fresh look,” Fitz said.

Housing and Dining Services solicited students’ input with regard to what they would like to see in a new and improved Entropy, and then made changes based on those responses.
In addition to the new selection, Entropy+ is also under the new management of Parkhurst Dining Services, which is overseen by Housing and Dining Services.

Fitz cites two ways in which the store’s new set-up will benefit students.

“First, Parkhurst and the Dining operations are food-focused and are able to quickly adapt to student requests in current food trends. Secondly, this gives [students] the added benefit and convenience in having meal plan dollars available for use in the store,” Fitz said.

Despite the added convenience, some students are disappointed by the consequences of the management change.

“I’d been hearing that if it were under CMU Housing and Dining, the prices would drop, but a lot of things are still really expensive,” said junior biological sciences major Satish Ramakrishnan.

However, most students are satisfied with the expanded selection, particularly the store’s selection of organic products, if not the store’s prices.

“I like that they have a whole section devoted to Kashi products,” said first-year Science and Humanities Scholar Eda Akyar.