Before hard-scoop ice cream became a Wednesday night staple, Peirce Dining Hall offered a different frozen favorite: soft-serve ice cream. According to District Manager at AVI Foodsystems Chris Wisbey, the new soft-serve machine in Peirce will likely be ready for student use by Friday. The dessert offering will soon be followed by other expansions to dining options, including vending machines with fresh options such as salads and wraps. 

As juniors and seniors may recall, the previous soft-serve machine began malfunctioning due to wear and tear before its eventual removal in spring 2023. Replacing it was no small endeavor, as industrial ice cream machines can run the price of a small car, according to Wisbey. To speed up the effort, Student Council took on the cost of the machine and worked with AVI to coordinate its return. 

“The executive board of [Student Council] worked really hard to get the machine back,” Housing and Dining Committee Chair Aakash Gunturu ’26 wrote in an email to the Collegian. “It’s been a goal for the seniors for a while now and it’s going to be a great addition back to Peirce. The old machine was seriously overused for its limits and this new one should be able to handle the campus’ appetite for soft-serve.” 

According to Wisbey, the machine will return to its full, former glory once dining staff is trained and the installation is finished, with AVI tentatively aiming for midday on Friday. The ice cream station will feature vanilla, chocolate and swirl options, as well as a topping bar to accompany it. Student Council members will have the first chance to use the machine before it is open to the full student body. 

When the previous machine broke down, AVI began offering hard-scoop ice cream: a current Wednesday night tradition. Wisbey is unsure if this feature, which often attracts a line of students stretching across the servery, will return once the soft-serve machine is functional. 

Some students expressed excitement for how much time the machine could save during a lunch or dinner rush. “I missed the soft-serve machine and I’m excited for it to be back,” Paula Sorić ’25 wrote in a message to the Collegian. “I wasn’t a huge fan of the scooping ice cream because of how long the lines got. Soft-serve is easier to serve.” 

Seniors were especially thrilled that the machine would be functional in the last few weeks before graduation. “It’s really nice to see Peirce bringing back something that brought everybody so much joy our freshman year,” Alexis Whitney ’25 said in an interview with the Collegian. “It’ll allow people to get more creative too. I remember seeing a lot of interesting creations like root beer floats and sundaes the last time it was around. The possibilities are endless.”

Gunturu echoed Whitney’s excitement: “I think it’s great that the machine is coming back when the weather’s warming up and I’m sure it’s going to be very popular.” 

Beyond the return of the machine, Wisbey revealed that AVI is planning another addition to student dining options: vending machines serving fresh food options including wraps, salads and sandwiches. Although the details have not been finalized, Wisbey explained that the machines would likely make an appearance in fall 2025, with three stationed around campus. “We’ll have someone on site pretty much every single day, making sure that foods are rotated so on, so forth,” he said. 

In light of new and upcoming options, Wisbey emphasized that the additions to dining services are all aimed to elevate the student experience. “We’re hoping that just small enhancements — we know that these have been years in the making with the vending piece — can enhance the dining experience on campus.”