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Opinion

Campus needs better food options

Jim McCormick
Opinion Columnist

A new semester is upon us. This means two things: One, our stress levels are going to increase and two, we're going to be greeted with a host of new problems that weren't around last semester. In many cases, such problems include a few unwanted pounds picked up from eating on campus for four months -- a problem that even a month off can't cure.

When I came back in the fall, I was a lean, mean, organic chemistry machine. In fact, I took a break just to handle organic chemistry. Over the summer, with diligent work and attention to my eating habits, I lost 25 pounds. I was feeling better, more rested and ready to go.

However, once school started, I quickly gained that loss back and then some. I had been down below 225 pounds for the first time in three years, and then I was suddenly back up to 250. In fact, every campus resident I know, with the exception of my roommate (he spent the better part of the term praying to the porcelain gods whenever he ate something) gained at least 20 pounds. Clothes bought at the beginning of the semester didn't fit. Pants that needed belts to stay up during the summer were getting tight. Furthermore, we were all starting to get sluggish.

There's no reason for this to happen. Yes, the college lifestyle is slightly more sedentary than most, but changing one's diet should help that. However, the diet we've followed as campus residents is not flexible. The options we have are meals that have been overcooked and are lacking in palatability or 99 cent heart attacks. There may be salad bars at Oberholtzer and the Towers, but frankly, they don't look all that healthy. I've seen hamburgers from Wendy's that aren't as slimy as the lettuce they set out.

Overall, eating on campus is a chore. Almost everything begins to taste the same. While I know of situations where campus dining is much worse, things here are in dire need of improvement. 

For a start, I might suggest that a healthier hot breakfast be served. I'm talking about oatmeal (not the instant stuff), bagels, English muffins and fresh fruit. Perhaps a hotel-like continental breakfast available at Oberholtzer would be a start. Make it multiple-trip, even. Perhaps installing milk and juice fountains might be a good idea, too. 

For lunch, a concept like the Satellite is good. Just make it available for residents on the weekends, too. We will go great distances for good food. Here's a tip, though: replace Taco Bell with Tejanitas. 

For dinner, several concepts would be good. First, a buffet-style area could be set up, perhaps at the Towers. Looking to dining establishments that follow such a model in the outside world would be much appreciated. Second, a sit-down restaurant would be nice. Perhaps even three: Eric's (which is already on the commuter meal plan -- why it isn't on the residential one as well confuses me), Barron's, and one other in the location currently occupied by The Link and Harlon's. Few people know those places exist, and there is little reward to finding them.

Baring that, I'd like to see weekend shuttle runs to the grocery stores around campus. Bringing them onto the residential meal plan probably should be included in such a proposal. We have the ability to cook every now and then. Perhaps then there wouldn't be as much dissent over the residential meal plan requirement.

McCormick, a columnist for The Daily Cougar, 
can be reached at rantman_2000@yahoo.com.