watsonmd@lopers.unk.edu

Chick-fil-A, in the Nebraskan Student Union, was closed for a week due to technical difficulties. The fire safety system continuously malfunctioned, which then knocked out the circuit breakers to the main units.

Eran Harrison, UNK Dining general manager, confirmed the issue began with the fry station.

“The first time we had a problem it was just with the fry station, where we fry the waffle fries and all that, it kept shutting all that off,” Harrison said. “Because of that we couldn’t have waffle fries because we don’t have a fryer, and then that problem leeched into the main system, which shuts off all the fryers they cook the chicken in. So, no chicken, means no Chick-fil-A.”

Chick-fil-a initially closed on Jan. 24. UNK Facilities was not able to fix the issue, and a repair company from Omaha was brought in. Chick-fil-A reopened on Feb. 1.

UNK Dining, Chick-fil-A employees and UNK Facilities were persistent with the third party about fixing the issue in a timely manner.

“We pushed them and forced them to come in the timeframe that they actually came, if not, it would have been 14 days, which would have been disastrous,” Harrison said.

The repair company was able to fix the electrical problem and Chick-fil-A is planned to remain open.

“According to what we’ve been told by the repair company, everything is fixed,” Harrison said. “There’s one little part that needs to be finished, but that shouldn’t have any direct impact on operations.”

The Chick-fil-A closure was not related to staffing issues, which has improved across all UNK Dining locations this semester.

Improved staffing means that UNK Dining can offer more to students, such as the Mongolian station in The Graze.

“We are offering more live action stations (at The Graze) because we are getting to a place where we can start doing those things,” Harrison said. “So, that’s exciting. You know, we haven’t been able to do that since COVID.”

Java Notes in the Fine Arts Building is also open this semester and fully operational.

UNK Dining is appreciative towards students for remaining patient during the Chick-fil-A closure and other recent dining challenges.

“Thank you to the student body and you know, for being patient with us all these years,” Harrison said. “I know that students here that came in during COVID didn’t see the full value of the dining hall and what we could offer. People have been very patient as we work through those challenges.”