Back in business

The Student Union is making a nearly full return this fall with several safety precautions in place. 

“All of the food venues are coming back in the fall,” Student Union Director Edna Zambrano said. “Probably the only exception is going to be The Grill in Edinburg.”

It is not yet known if The Grill in Edinburg will have a replacement. 

“It may likely remain closed the entire academic year,” Zambrano said.

The rest of the concessions, including Pizza Hut, Starbucks and convenience stores, will be returning on both campuses.

Hours of operation are yet to be finalized, so the current expected schedule is tentative. The Edinburg Student Union will be open six days a week.

“Right now, the plan for us is to be open every day except Saturdays,” Zambrano said. “Unless there’s actually an event, nobody comes to the building on Saturdays.” 

The Union in Edinburg will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, it will close at 5 p.m.

On the Brownsville campus, Sodexo plans to open The Grill inside the Student Union’s El Comedor. Food services will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the area will remain open until 6 p.m.

La Sala, also in the Student Union on the Brownsville campus, will also be open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Seating on both campuses will also look different this fall. Until recently, most of the furniture was removed.

“Our plan for the fall is to return as much seating as we can,” Zambrano said. “But still leave some distance.”

Furniture will be returned but situated to allow for smaller groups and single diners.

However, groups of students will be able to push together tables as needed to hang out in the space.

“The other thing we’re going to continue is our increased cleaning and our wiping down between customers,” Zambrano said. 

Disinfectant wipes and sanitizing stations will be available for visitors to use.

Students can expect both game rooms to make a full return.

 “We want to bring them back this fall and open them Monday through Friday,” Zambrano said. “And the plan is also to have ‘free play.’ We’ll no longer be charging for students to play.”

The game rooms on both campuses will also be open longer. 

“We are actually expanding them,” Zambrano said about the game room hours of operation. “We are going to do 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.”

The department is hoping that by introducing “free play,” expanding hours and increasing game selection, more students will take advantage of the rooms.

Safety in the game rooms is going to involve cleaning between visitors. Cleaning supplies for personal use will be provided to give visitors an extra sense of security.

Though the game rooms will be closed on the weekends, they will take turns opening on Sundays at least once a month with free activities for students. Times for these events will be scheduled as dates approach.

“We know that some students come to campus to study, but if you’re done early … and you’re still with your group, maybe you can come over and enjoy an activity in the game room,” Zambrano said.