Dining adds BuzzBy, rewards program

Dining has introduced several new developments this year, among which are BuzzBy, a grab-and-go cafeteria located inside Brittain Recreational Center on East Campus, as well as a rewards program and an option for students to use their meal plans to purchase hot meals in the Student Center food court.

"Overall, [BuzzBy] is a good way for students to take advantage of a convenient meal, while still having some variety," said Shequita Barnes, marketing manager of Dining Services.

BuzzBy was initiated this year with funding from Sodexho, a food company that provides Tech dining halls with food and other supplies such as napkins. It rented the space from Tech, which is the first college to host this type of program.

"With the North Avenue Apartments open, Brittain is extremely busy around the lunch period and many students can't afford to wait in line. That's why we created it," Barnes said.

The hot food menu follows that of Brittain and changes every day, while the snacks and cold food are supplied independently from the Student Center Food Court.

BuzzBy operates on a distinct point system. With one swipe of a BuzzCard (which is worth four points), the client can mix and match among the hot food buffet (2 points), sandwiches (2 points), salad (2 points), snacks (1 point), and a bottled beverage (1 point with the added restriction of one beverage per meal swipe).

"We just need [more exposure] to become more well-known to the general population at Tech. But so far, everything's been as good as it can get," said Johnny Howard, supervisor of BuzzBy.

Students seem to appreciate the addition and had praise for it, but the somewhat unusual location, tucked away in Brittain Rec, may be an issue.

"It's a great way to grab a quick lunch if you just have a few minutes between classes. But the signs need to be improved so that people know exactly where it is, and the hours could be longer," said Sonia Golemme, a first-year Physics major.

The window of availability certainly is limited compared to the other dining options on campus. Currently, BuzzBy is open only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, making it only a viable option for a quick lunch.

"The food is good, reliable, and you can take it anywhere. The location could be improved, but I know it's hard for them right now," said Shelley Eckert, a second-year Biomedical Engineering major.

Howard cited BuzzBy's versatility as a reason many students enjoy having it around as a new option for lunch.

"It's a place of many functions. People on the go can grab their lunch and leave, while those who aren't in too much of a hurry can sit down, relax, hang out, and listen to music," Howard said.

Another program that was introduced this year is "Dinner at the Court," which allows students to use their Meal Plan to eat at the Student Center Food Court. At the food court, students can get the Chef's Line, salad bar, desserts and fountain beverages. In addition to these new food sites, Georgia Tech dining services are also offering the Buzz Dining Rewards program, in which every participant receives a 5% reward bonus for each food purchase made with the BuzzCard. The reward bonus points will accumulate and can be redeemed for free food. Participation in this program is not automatic; to enroll in the program, interested students should sign up at www.buzzdiningrewards.com.

"We're really excited about the additions to GT dining this year, and we're really looking forward to having these programs flourish," Barnes said.