Living in a campus residence hall is becoming easier for new and returning students.

In order to better the quality of life for students, NIU’s residence halls underwent major changes and improvements during the summer.

One of the major projects completed was the Northern Lights Grill, a $25,000 endeavor, which opened Monday in Grant Towers South.

Michael Coakley, executive director of Student Housing and Dining, said the cafeteria was refurbished to look more like an Applebee’s or T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant and features an expanded menu with an a la carte-style dining plan where students pay by the item ordered.

Grant North will remain all-you-can-eat with set prices for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

At the Northern Lights Grill, students order food and have it brought out to their table. As they wait, they can play pool, foosball or watch TV.

The grill will serve food from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and from 4 to 9 p.m. Sundays. The grill will not serve food on Saturdays, but it will be open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for residents to come in and play pool, watch TV or just hang out.

Linda Tillis, associate director of facilities at the office of Student Housing and Dining, boasts that the grill will be the only spot on campus that offers the Fox Sports Net package. The TV’s

also have NIU’s cable station, Channel 8 and a wide variety of other channels offered by the Dish Network.

Freshman accountancy major James Grahovac and freshman marketing major Rob Glaz both agreed that the best part of the new grill was how the food was brought out to them.

“That was nice. It’s like a restaurant,” Grahovac said.

Alex Underwood, Residence Hall Association president, noted the lobbies of Lincoln and Douglas also were renovated over the summer.

The lobbies, which feature new carpet that was installed over the summer and with furniture that is expected to arrive in a few weeks, were renovated at a cost of $162,900.

Even without many places to sit in the refinished lobbies, students reacted in a positive way.

“I think it looks very nice, a lot better,” said Sarah Rejnert, a sophomore journalism major and resident of Lincoln Hall.

Another major project included new roofing on Douglas and Neptune Halls.

The new roofing for Neptune Hall, which cost $562,200, was completed in August., with the work on Douglas Hall to be completed within the week. The budget for Douglas’ roof repairs was $661,700.

General improvements and repairs that occurred over the summer, such as painting and carpeting, came to an estimated cost of $159,000.

“Room and board fees pay for operating expenses,” Tillis said. “A portion of this money is put into a reserve fund to pay for renovations and repairs.”

The Residence Hall Association and office of Student Housing and Dining will review what changes need to occur in specific areas over the upcoming months, with plans for new furniture in the Lincoln and Douglas floor lounges, renovation of the Grant elevator cars and new power doors in Neptune West.

“Consistent improvements over time make the residence halls a better place to live,” Underwood said.

Coakley added that improvements and renovations will continue to happen on a rolling basis in the various residence halls within upcoming years.