DATE: Friday, March 7, 1997                 TAG: 9703070055

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MARY BETH BUDNYK, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                      LENGTH:   81 lines

HOSTESSES FIELD COMPLAINTS AT W&M

AT EXACTLY NOON, the doors burst open and 400 students flood the University Center food court at the College of William and Mary.

Chattering food service workers snap to attention.

Some hungry students compete for positions in serpentine lines. Others push through the crowd, flinging backpacks on empty tables to mark their territory.

The clattering silverware and noisy conversation reach a crescendo.

Ernestine Jackson stands amidst the chaos, an island of tranquillity in a burgundy blazer, striped shirt and navy slacks.

``Hi, sweetheart! Is there anything I can help you with?'' she asks a particularly frazzled student.

Instantly, the student's sullen expression softens to a smile.

As a food service worker, Jackson has been greeting students at William and Mary dining halls for 16 years. But now she and Agnes Woody, a seven-year veteran at William and Mary, have moved from behind the cash registers to get even closer to students.

They are the college's new ``hostesses,'' ushering in the Hospitality Hostess program to improve food service on campus.

The hostesses rotate among three campus dining halls, gathering compliments and complaints and serving as a link between students and Marriott Dining Services, the college's food-service provider.

Greg Perry, Marriott's general manager, said the month-old program - believed to be a first among area colleges - reflects a trend toward making college food services less like cafeterias and more like restaurants.

He said that Jackson's and Woody's friendly, open nature made them the perfect candidates for this ``warm and fuzzy'' job.

``What they really want us to do is communicate with the students,'' said Jackson. ``The kids are more willing to talk to us openly.''

Junior Kelli Kidwell of Virginia Beach, a favorite target of Jackson's bountiful hugs and kisses, said she knows Jackson but wasn't aware of Jackson's reputation as a matchmaker.

Kidwell was eating lunch with friends when Jackson strolled over to a nearby table full of men.

``Isn't she pretty?'' Jackson asked enthusiastically, pointing at Kidwell.

``I was dying,'' Kidwell said. ``I was so red.''

Jackson knows many students' names and abbreviated personal histories. She makes it her mission to brighten mealtime for stressed-out students.

One Friday night, the dinner rush had exhausted food service workers and students alike. Only 40 students remained in the dining hall, including sophomore Oedi Rice of Bluemont, Va.

Jackson decided to add a little spice to the evening meal. She made her way to the center of the dining room and launched into the opening notes of ``You Are My Sunshine.''

``Suddenly the entire place was filled with music,'' Rice said. ``She was singing this inspirational song with a big grin on her face, and everyone around her joined in. It was a great end to a Friday night.''

While Jackson is a motherly type, Woody fills the role of a big sister. She used to get reprimanded for talking to students during work. Now she gets paid for it.

Early one morning, sleepy sophomore Greg Barber of Fairfax wanted his orange juice. To his dismay, the dispenser was empty, so he returned to his table in defeat.

Woody approached Barber's table. ``Good morning,'' she said cheerfully. ``Is there anything I can help you with?''

When Barber informed her of the juice shortage, Woody was shocked and apologetic. She went to the kitchen, got another employee to fill the juice dispenser, poured a glass for Barber and brought it to his table.

``She didn't have to do it,'' Barber said in disbelief. ``That was really nice.''

Woody says students see her as ``a big crazy college kid.'' She has a seemingly inexhaustible reservoir of energy. She darts from one table to the next, freely interrupting students' conversations.

``I'm a jack rabbit,'' she said, gesturing with her hands. ``I have to stay on the move.''

With positive feedback from students, Perry said, the program could expand to employ more hosts and hostesses, including senior citizens.

``If we don't attempt to try some things, we're never going to improve,'' he said. ``If we fail, that's OK. We move on and try something else.''

But failure doesn't seem likely. So far the hostesses have been received the same way they greet students - with a smile. MEMO: Mary Beth Budnyk is a junior at the College of William and Mary

majoring in government. She is from Stephens City, Va.

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