How the new space affects campus life
The Dumb Ox, the underground cafe at the University of Dallas, is now open from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Dumb Ox is another space on campus for students to host events, get together with friends and make the most of their UD experience.
After the Dumb Ox, formerly the Rathskeller Cafe, was closed for many months due to remodeling, the new hours of the cafe coincide with students experiencing the newly remodeled space for the first time.
“With the new remodeling, [it] makes it feel more welcoming,” said freshman mathematics major and student event assistant for Campus Activities Board Ashley Cuellar. “I know for the upperclassmen the bar being open there and the TVs make people want to gather in there and play pool or watch a movie.”
According to a survey sent out by the Cor Chronicle to UD students, some criticized the decision to rename the underground cafe. “When will the rebranding end?” said one student.
A main feature of the new Dumb Ox is the new bar, which sells alcoholic beverages and beer on tap in the evenings. “The Dumb Ox is a beautiful space, but the renovation transitioned it from a place where many students, including myself, often went to study, eat, and socialize to a place that the majority of the student population (those under 21) does not really benefit from,” said one student.
However, according to others, responses remain positive.
“I definitely think it’ll encourage everyone to get together more,” said freshman politics major and SG senator Norah Felefli. “Everyone knows where it is, and it is an easy [way] to meet up and bring people together.”
Felefli explained how the updated Dumb Ox hours provide students the opportunity to get what they need at their own convenience.
“I think it’s good, [because] no matter what, there’s always going to be something open,” Felefli said. “It’s nice and convenient because you don’t have to go off campus for anything.”
Joe Rodda, senior politics major and CAB Music and Entertainment intern, explained the initial perceptions of the renovated space and how it remains in a transitional phase.
“There was an understanding that with the renovation of the Rat, there would be an open bar in the Dumb Ox,” Rodda said. “That was the perception: [that] we’re having a new updated space, [we] can hang out anytime, and we found out that that wasn’t the case. They always have beers in the fridge outside [the bar], there just wasn’t someone on the tap [to serve beer]. With the new update, it’s a push to try and see if it’s economically feasible for the Dumb Ox to remain open multiple days a week.”
Aramark, food service provider for the university, holds the liquor license to distribute alcoholic beverages on campus. As the university does not own the license, all distribution of alcohol at campus events, including UD club-sponsored events, must be operated by Aramark.
“[Aramark coordinates] the qualification of TABC, TABC-certified bartenders to pour beer […] Everyone has to have that certification, so Aramark as the food service provider hires or trains people that can then work at the bar,” said Dr. Ben Gibbs, Executive Director of Facilities and Capital Projects.
Aramark currently does not employ student workers to staff the bar during open hours.
As the CAB Music and Entertainment intern, Rodda explained how the Dumb Ox hours affects existing CAB events.
“The bar adds something to the events already happening, so I run TGIT [and other events] independent of the bar being open,” said Rodda.
“We want to create spaces that students want to use. That’s really the whole goal,” said Gibbs.