New Pi² Cafe Serves Up Changes and Mixed Student Reactions

After a long summer of waiting for a glimpse of the University’s newest dining space, Pi² Cafe opened its doors to the community on Monday, Sept. 7, coinciding with the first day of classes. The cafe opening was part of the launch of the Casper Life Sciences Building, the newest construction on campus.

Pi² Cafe replaces the beloved Pi Cafe, previously located in Exley Science Center, with similar offerings. The cafe also boasts a selection of hot breakfast sandwiches and crepes. The new cafe is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays.

Unlike Pi Cafe—a regular spot for weekend studiers and meetings—Pi² is closed on weekends, an unwelcome change for students and workers alike. 

“It’s an hourly job,” Esmeralda Rodriguez ’27, a student worker at Pi², said. “More students would have an opportunity to make an income. Things are literally more expensive every single day. Cutting the hours is a disadvantage to us and to those that really need it.”

Other issues that students have expressed include the comparatively minimalistic design of the cafe compared to old Pi’s warm tones, fabric-covered furniture, and chalkboard menus. An anonymous student posting on Fizz, a social media app, commented on the clean look and usage of technology in the cafe and the Life Sciences building alongside a photo of the cafe. 

“The New Science Building looks like AI or from the future fr (we will miss Pi),” the anonymous Fizz user posted.

Other students agreed.

“I don’t really like how the only way to interact or look at the [menu] is [through a] screen,” Jessica Gyamfi ’29 said. “I like how Pi [had] that chalkboard, and it was nicely designed.”

Students have expressed appreciation for its efficiency during breakfast and lunch hours.

“At 9:40, there’s usually not a super long line,” Kiara Tanovan ’30 said. “I usually get a pastry because I have a class 10 minutes after.”

The cafe is a popular choice for first-years and sophomores on meal plans who are able to use their meal swipes between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., a change from the meal policy at the old Pi Cafe, which only had the option available during breakfast.

“It just makes things a little more accessible and convenient,” Sam Chin-Rust ’29 said.

Despite the new efficiency, students have expressed missing the more personal and unique elements from the old Pi Cafe.

“It [was] very creative, and it [used to] change each day…bi-weekly,” Rodriguez said. “Students [would] come up with [drinks] like Granny Apple…there was apple cider, caramel, and whipped cream. People could mix it. People are really into that.”

While students have raised concerns about Pi² Cafe’s hours, design, and menu, the University and theWesleyan Student Assembly Student Life Committee (WSASLC) is continuing to assess how the new cafe is functioning. 

WSASLC Chair Zerek Laghari ’29 said the committee has been communicating student feedback to dining administrators, particularly regarding hours, staffing, lines, and menu options.

“I have received complaints about the hours at [Pi²] being limited compared to last year, especially when it comes to the weekends,” Laghari said. 

The dining team is also continuing to evaluate how the space is being used. According to the University’s dining website, administrators are still assessing factors including “peak periods and slow periods, noise levels in the cafe affecting classroom spaces, etc.” These assessments could help inform future adjustments to the cafe’s operations.

Laghari has mentioned that the intention remains to bring back offerings from the original Pi Cafe while introducing new options.

“The goal was to have the exact same items at [Pi²] as Pi, along with new additions, such as crepes,” Laghari said.

As Pi² settles into its first semester, student feedback and ongoing assessments will likely shape how the cafe develops in the months ahead. 

Raiza Goel can be reached at rgoel@wesleyan.edu.

Elyse Mathews can be reached at esmathews@wesleyan.edu.