The Pub at Overcup Oak reverted to its old menu and hours on Monday, ending Dining's experiment with a smaller lunch menu and a dinner buffet. The Hustler first reported on the changes in August, citing student complaints about the lack of familiar options. Vanderbilt Student Government, at the time, was officially unaware of the changes, and afterward took it upon itself to lobby Dining.

Both Dining and VSG should be commended for making these improvements to the Pub. While the nightly buffet was a bold experiment on the part of Dining, the result was disappointing. Students familiar with the pub-style menu and casual dining atmosphere were instead presented with a confusing schedule of buffet menus and little consistency in food choice.

The classic Pub menu kept a steady stream of customers every night, while the crowds were considerably smaller this semester. Since the restoration of the dinner menu, the Pub has almost immediately returned to its level of popularity, which benefits both students and Dining itself. Dining was clearly attuned to student opinion, and they acted accordingly. Bravo.

Those members of VSG who worked hard to convince Dining that the Pub needed to return to form have shown they are listening to their constituents. Students should be glad their student government is working in their interest. This is a role that, for most of the past year, VSG has been moderately successful in fulfilling. The aspects of campus life that include student dining, residence halls and academic resources, are those VSG has a good handle on.

On a larger scale, the Pub's transformation back represents a success for Vanderbilt students who wish to act through the appropriate vessels to make their lives here better. It demonstrates that if enough students make enough noise about a legitimate issue, the university will respond. This is encouraging for students dissatisfied with certain parts of life on campus and want to do something about it.

- Michael Warren