Spectrum - Volume 21 Issue 02 September 3, 1998 - RDP help welcomes students to campus

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

RDP help welcomes students to campus

By Lori Greiner

Spectrum Volume 21 Issue 02 - September 3, 1998

Residential and Dining Programs (RDP) rolled out the red carpet for students and their families during opening weekend at Virginia Tech. With many new programs under way, RDP experienced one of the smoothest openings in history thanks to the efforts of many student organizations, and faculty and staff members. Many hours were spent finishing last-minute details on several projects geared toward continuously improving the living environment for students.
The RDP staff has been waiting the arrival of students and the opening of two new residence halls, New Residence Hall East and New Residence Hall West. These suite-style, air-conditioned halls will accommodate a total of 440 students.
Improvements were also made to several other residence halls during the summer months. Slusher Tower and Wing, Pritchard and Lee received sprinkler systems. New windows were installed in Miles, Barringer and Johnson and new vanities were installed in Ambler Johnston. Ethernet connections were completed in all residence halls to give every resident on campus an Ethernet port.
Students were offered two new special-housing programs this year, the WORLD and the Residential Leadership Community. The WORLD is an international living option for new and returning students, which provides domestic and international students an opportunity to live together in a diverse setting, and allows residents to remain on campus during university breaks. The Residential Leadership Community allows students to explore the language, theories, ethics and competencies of leadership as a framework for formal and informal learning experiences.
The Depot in Dietrick opened a new dining option for students called the Training Edge. The Training Edge is for those students who are health conscious and want to maintain a high-energy diet. RDP has been working closely with the Athletic Department to develop a menu that is appropriate for student athletes or anyone looking to stay fit. The Training Edge will feature a variety of menu items such as baked chicken, fish, pasta, fruits and vegetables.
Chick-fil-A® and Pizza Hut®, located in tHe Hokie Grill & Co. in Owens Food Center, re-opened their doors for a second year after an outstanding inaugural. The introduction of national brands has increased customer volume by more than 50 percent, to more than 3,000 students per day. Chick-fil-A® received the highest customer-service rating of any Chick-fil-A® restaurant in the country and ranks number one in sales among all Chick-fil-A® campus outlets.
To cap off a hectic weekend, RDP hosted the annual Hokie Spirit Picnic held on the Dietrick Plaza, where more than 6,000 Dining-Plan Holders enjoyed a Picnic dinner.