Now that Sodexo Inc. has taken over Baker University’s dining services, student focus groups are being organized to discuss future plans for the Wildcat Café.

“When Sodexo first came in, I was asked to get some students together for a focus group,” Dean of Student Cassy Bailey said. “They definitely wanted to hear feedback from students on what they wanted in the Wildcat Café.”

Sodexo’s initial suggestion of replacing the Wildcat Café with an Einstein Bros Bagels has been met with some resistance among the Baker student population.

“I don’t think there’s really any changes necessary,” freshman Jackson Hill said. “My older brother works there and I really like the Café the way it is.”

Senior Patrick King says he appreciates the wide range of food that the Café currently offers.

“I’ve been a very good patron of the Café ever since my freshman year,” King said. “I’m not really a fan putting an Einstein’s in because they’re known for mainly breakfast and I’d like something that will last all day.”

King and Hill both volunteered to be on the student focus groups to try and give their input.

“I heard from one of the ladies in the Café that Sodexo was holding focus groups, so I thought I’d throw my two cents in,” King said.

Bailey said while she has been asked to gather students for the focus groups, no specific times have been set.

“I think Sodexo will wait until a general manager is hired and put into place, which will be after Thanksgiving, to hold the focus groups,” Bailey said.

While Sodexo initially suggested an Einstein Bros Bagel, Bailey doesn’t think that franchise is set in stone.

“Sodexo came in here and presented an idea without knowing the full community and I do not fault them for that,” Bailey said. “Now they’re doing what is best practice, which is to go back and see what the community needs really are.”