An ode to D-Hall
It is time to say goodbye to the best dining hall JMU has to offer…
The end of the semester is approaching faster than I imagined and I am in a state of disarray for many of reasons – one of which entails the end of an era, the destruction of an iconic JMU building, a classic monument. It is with a heavy heart that I must bid adieu to JMU’s finest dining hall, D-Hall.
The go-to establishment for brunch on the weekend for those who live closer to the quad or whenever one is in need of their peanut butter pie fix, D-Hall will be missed greatly. Despite the coined term, “D-Hall dash,” it is a staple of JMU regardless of the after-effects on your body. No one can deny his or her love of the previously mentioned peanut butter pie, rice crispy wraps, cheesy Thursdays, or soft-serve ice cream. Not to mention, it acts as a test of seniority; only freshmen will be found asking where ‘Gibbons Hall’ is located.
I asked around as to what people would miss about D-Hall. The answers were both hilarious and saddening. Be prepared to take a trip down memory lane when reading these.
“Buff mash. Mashed potatoes with fried chicken tenders on top with buffalo and ranch on it.”
“Salad. I love salad.”
“Flo the sandwich lady. She is angelic.”
“The all you can eat-ness of it all, the dessert bar, Thursday buff mash.”
“Bonding with all my freshman friends.”
“Running to the bathroom–jk don’t write that.” (Oops, sorry…)
“Grilled cheese Thursday”
“Brunchhhhhhhh”
“Peanut butter pie”
RIP (Source: https://jmusocialmedia.files.wordpress.com)
“Being able to serve myself! Also French toast sticks at brunch occasionally.”
“When they have someone making fresh sushi.”
“Serving myself.”
“#teamehall”
“Everything.”
“Not gonna lie I’m secretly one of those people who [loves] dhall. I don’t think it is that bad.”
“E-Hall or bust.”
“They have real soft serve ice cream not just fro yo and more toppings for it.”
“I also love the water with lemon and cucumbers that they have. E-Hall I have to put the lemons in myself…too lazy for that.”
“Tables of frat boys making pledges save their table all day.”
“Honestly nothing.”
“Pb pie”
“All you can eat tots at brunch”
“Not a lot haha”
“…omg I’m probably not a good Duke because I won’t miss D-Hall. But I did love the dessert bar.”
“Honestly my first meal ever at JMU (orientation) so I’ll miss the beginning of it all.”
The last quote is my favorite since it resonates with me. My first meal at JMU was at D-Hall and it brings me back to my freshmen year and where my memories at JMU began. Regardless of your thoughts on D-Hall’s food, it is a quintessential part of JMU that will be forever missed (for varying reasons).
D-Hall officially closes for construction beginning in June 2016. It is expected to be completed in the fall of 2018. Be sure to get your last D-Hall experience in before then and bask in all its greatness. Once it is closed, a makeshift dining hall is in the works of the parking lot behind the village and C-4 lot. But it won’t be the same… it just won’t.