Across Campus -- Starbucks and Freshens

Coming soon to the Reamer Campus Center are two franchises that should be familiar to coffee and ice cream lovers: Starbucks and Freshens.

"We learned through surveys with students that we need to try something new and different," said Jim Holdren, director of dining services. A number of colleges and universities are offering popular franchises to students, but this is a first at Union, he said.

Starbucks, the Seattle-based coffee powerhouse, and Freshens, which offers a variety of frozen treats, will be housed at a counter just south of the dining area at Dutch Hollow. There will be a "soft opening" on Oct. 21, with a grand opening at the end of that week.

Of the decision to bring in a coffee and ice cream vendor side-by-side, Holdren said the two products work well together, selling at different times of the day. Coffee is a big seller in the morning and evening; ice cream is popular in the afternoon and between meals.