Earlier this year, a survey was conducted to find a new name for Spartie-Que. Located on the lower level of Leutner Commons, Spartie-Que served as a late-night barbecue-themed dining spot for students. However, the university decided it was time for a name change. This survey consisted of multiple rounds: the first round for new name suggestions, and the following rounds for voting. The final round featured names like Barbe-CWRU, The Colosseum, Knight Bytes and the Sizzling Spartan. Ultimately, by the end of October, Knight Bytes won.
The announcement was first released on Oct. 9, with an allegedly AI-generated poster of students enjoying drinks and games. The rename received some backlash from students, with some believing there was no need for it.
“Out of all the problems on this campus, we chose to change the name of Spartie-Que,” said first-year student Arianna Moy.
There seems to be a recurring theme of that particular dining spot being renamed. In 2021, the Lower Level Leutner Grill, also known as L3 Grill, was changed to Spartie-Que as a play on the word “barbecue.” The trend continued with the rebrand of Spartie-Que to Knight Bytes this semester.
As part of the first-year housing upgrades, the university wanted to transform the Spartie-Que space by introducing new gaming features, including a Star Wars pinball machine, skee-ball and popular video games such as EA SPORTS FC™ 25, Battlefield, Marvel Rivals and MLB The Show 25. In response to these plans, the Student Food Committee decided to rename it to better fit the new amenities.
In addition, Bon Appétit had developed a special menu, including the addition of nachos, sliders and corn dogs. Knight Bytes will continue to operate from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on the weekdays, remaining a popular late-night dining option on the northside of campus alongside The Den by Denny’s.
“We hope the Knight Bytes rebrand communicates that this new space was created with students at its heart for relaxation, to connect, and recharge in an engaging, inclusive environment that blends night-time dining with gaming,” Richard Jamieson, vice president of Campus Services, said. “The shift from Spartie-Que to Knight Bytes combines tradition with technology, embodying a space where camaraderie, creativity, and fun come together.”