The Spire

Gianna Micieli ‘30

Many students simply look at Kimball Dining Hall as a passive entity; a place that they have to navigate to and from in between their countless classes and commitments. However, what these students miss are the hidden gems that exist throughout the dining hall, and the serenity and peace of mind that these regions of Kimball have to offer. 

As a student with food allergies, something as simple as deciding what to eat for dinner can become a daunting and nerve-wracking task as the lines get longer and a fear of cross contamination becomes much more prevalent. 

But in the Gluten Free Zone, students with approved accommodations (after meeting with Student Accessibility Services) receive a specific numerical code and can experience a worry free and peaceful dining experience thanks to Holy Cross Hospitality. 

According to Bradley Shannon, Director of Culinary Development and Nutrition, the Gluten Free Zone in lower-Kimball opened in January 2026, “as part of [an] ongoing effort to improve the dining experience for all of [Holy Cross] students.” Shannon expands on this point by sharing that “students with celiac disease, wheat allergies, and other gluten-related dietary needs needed a space where they could feel more comfortable and confident getting food.”

The Gluten Free Zone is not a stagnant part of Kimball that will eventually fall through the cracks. Instead, it is a constantly evolving part of campus. Shannon, as well as his department, even hope to be “ranked on the Princeton Review”, as “UMass Amherst has consistently won best dining on this list” and Shannon and his fellow staff “wants Holy Cross to Rival them.” In connection to this goal to improve the dining experience for students, I can also attest that the Dining Staff at Kimball are always willing to receive constructive feedback, as it is their goal to turn student wants and needs into tangible results. Holy Cross Hospitality even has a Student-based group that works alongside dining staff to help better the dining experience for all students. 

In addition to taking the student perspective into consideration, the Kimball dining staff worked to reuse the lower Kimball space that has remained untouched for years. It used to exist as a separate dining space for students, but in recent years, the space fell defunct. So, not only does the Gluten Free Zone act as a safe space for students with allergies, it also works to rejuvenate a formerly unused aspect of Kimball.

The accommodations and accessibility don’t just end with gluten allergies, as Shannon shares how “there are always opportunities to make dining more inclusive for students with different dietary needs”. For example, Holy Cross Hospitality is looking at introducing additional dairy-free products at the BASE station and at Cool Beans, according to Shannon. 

As for the response to the Gluten Free Zone in general, Shannon shares that “the response from students has been very positive”. A personal anecdote of Shannon that really shines a light on these positive aspects involves a student reaching out to him personally just to thank him and Holy Cross Hospitality for creating the Gluten Free Zone. Spaces such as the Gluten Free Zone are beneficial not only to the students who utilize them, but also the staff who helped to create them, as they have the opportunity to make a difference. In Shannon’s experience, “when a student takes the time to tell you that something has made their everyday experience better, you know that it matters.” As for the future of the Gluten Free Zone, Holy Cross Hospitality hopes to expand options, improve the experience, and continue to listen to students who utilize the space.