Following the 3-2-1 countdown led by University President Pat Long, orange balloons, noisemakers and cheers filled the air Friday evening as a celebration of the completion of phase one of the Harter Union renovation process.

“We’re going to make some noise and we’re going to release the balloons,” Long said. “And as we release, this is a symbol of exciting times ahead a first for our students, our community, for Baker University.”

Dining Hall Facts

~ There are four types of meal plans: 19 meals per week, 14 meals per week, 12 meals per week, and a commuter plan with a renewable card and 75 meals a semester.

~ Each meal plan comes with flex meals that can be used throughout the semester.

~ Grill is open extra hours from 8 – 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday at retail prices.

~ For a full meal when you enter the dining hall, the door price is $6 breakfast, $7 lunch and $8 dinner.

~ There are no more to-go meals, but students can ask for a to-go box at the front desk the day before. They can also bring a schedule if they need a to-go box throughout the semester.

The completion of phase one means a new dining hall, which features several food stations, including pizza, pasta, deli, fresh market, international food, classic entrees and a grill. New tables, chairs and dishes also complete the modern look of the cafeteria.

In her welcome speech, University President Pat Long gave thanks to the many people who helped make it possible, including the Board of Trustees and lead donor Susanne Teel, who donated a gift of $1.1 million.

While the renovation would not have been possible without the support of these people, Long said it was the students who pressed for this project the most.

“And to our students, … who kept pushing and pushing and pushing and pushing and said, ‘Dr. Long, if you do one thing while you’re here, it better be this one,’” Long said. “I am so grateful we could deliver for you.”

After the orange balloons were released, the crowd of students, faculty, staff and families gathered inside for their first meal in the newly renovated cafeteria.

“It’s fantastic,” sophomore Aaron Greenbaum said. “It’s so fun to see such a great environment in the student union. It’s so different and so much fun.”

Student Senate President Owen Lewis was happy to see the reaction from everyone else.

“I’m personally excited, (but) what’s actually got me more excited is how excited everyone else is,” Lewis said. “When I was walking tables, talking to returning students, everyone has big smiles.”

As the excitement of phase one settles in, the renovation process continues with phase two, which is expected to be completed in June 2014. Phase three has no expected completion date set.

Phase two will consist of a new lobby with study rooms, seating, games, computers and a coffee bar.

“What we want is a place that’s like the living room of the campus,” Long said in an earlier interview. “So this coffee shop here, I look forward to that being just the place between classes, going to run up in there and get a cup of coffee, just be hanging out.”

Lewis is also looking forward to a place where students can come together and collaborate.

“A union is supposed to be that collaborative place, and we don’t have it, so I think once phase two gets done, and again, we’ve got the food part done, now we just need the actual kind of zone to hang out and get people in here and stay around here.”

Phase three will consist of a multipurpose room, which will serve as a venue for banquets, student performances and ceremonies.

Part of Long’s vision has already come true as students, faculty and staff alike gathered to celebrate the completion of one part of the renovation, as well as to celebrate the future plans.

“One of the things I wanted, which I’m going to see here, is just this new feeling about the campus that it brought people together and it brought them into a building and all of a sudden they connected,” Long said.

“It’s fantastic,” sophomore Aaron Greenbaum said. “It’s so fun to see such a great environment in the student union. It’s so different and so much fun.”

Student Senate President Owen Lewis was happy to see the reaction from everyone else.

“I’m personally excited, (but) what’s actually got me more excited is how excited everyone else is,” Lewis said. “When I was walking tables, talking to returning students, everyone has big smiles.”

As the excitement of phase one settles in, the renovation process continues with phase two, which is expected to be completed in June 2014. Phase three has no expected completion date set.

Phase two will consist of a new lobby with study rooms, seating, games, computers and a coffee bar.

“What we want is a place that’s like the living room of the campus,” Long said in an earlier interview. “So this coffee shop here, I look forward to that being just the place between classes, going to run up in there and get a cup of coffee, just be hanging out.”

Lewis is also looking forward to a place where students can come together and collaborate.

“A union is supposed to be that collaborative place, and we don’t have it, so I think once phase two gets done, and again, we’ve got the food part done, now we just need the actual kind of zone to hang out and get people in here and stay around here.”

Phase three will consist of a multipurpose room, which will serve as a venue for banquets, student performances and ceremonies.

Part of Long’s vision has already come true as students, faculty and staff alike gathered to celebrate the completion of one part of the renovation, as well as to celebrate the future plans.

“One of the things I wanted, which I’m going to see here, is just this new feeling about the campus that it brought people together and it brought them into a building and all of a sudden they connected,” Long said.