Students were given the chance to enjoy restaurant quality steaks Sept. 10 when Mayes Dining Hall hosted the Great American Steakout. Featuring 500 12-ounce grilled rib eyes, 16-ounce porterhouses and 8-ounce T-bone steaks provided by Stone’s Steakhouse, the Steakout is part of the Dining Hall’s ongoing Way-Out Wednesdays: Party on the Patio series of events.

“During the summer, I was trying to come up with different concepts for the new theme that I created, Way-Out Wednesdays: Party on the Patio,” said Jackie Jackson, dining hall manager. “One of the things that came to mind was — last semester and throughout the past few years, we’ve always done a steak night.

“It wasn’t very well received because it was just mediocre, so I wanted to bump it up a notch.”

According to Jackson, the partnership with Stone’s Steakhouse was made possible through Sodexo’s new Swipe Plus programs, which have been set up to aid in special themed events.

“We want to make this more of a restaurant feel for [the students] and not just a cafeteria,” said Jackson.

In addition to the steaks, students were treated to signature sides such as baked potatoes, beer-battered onion rings, garlic bread and grilled corn on the cob.

“The turnout has been wonderful,” said Jackson. “We opened the doors at 11 a.m. for this event to a line of people that was already 30 deep — which was wonderful.

“Normally, if we do get a line, or if we do get a crowd, it’s well into the event when word of mouth has spread.”

Mayes Dining Hall is also hoping to implement some more themed events in the coming semester — including a club night, which would be held once of month.

“We’re going to be turning [the cafeteria] into more of a club atmosphere so that students don’t have to go off campus and make bad choices,” said Jackson.

Another event the Dining Hall is looking to start in October is a monthly birthday bingo bash, where students who are celebrating their birthdays are invited to come to the Dining Hall for a party and to win prizes.