The university plans to host three student forums in the coming week to determine what food options students would like to see on campus. The move comes as the university plans to get rid of Chick-fil-A and Pura Vida, two notoriously unpopular eating establishments in Mary Graydon Center. The AU administration has made it clear that they hope to expand and diversify eating options on campus - both laudable goals. Here are a few other specific changes students would like to see to campus food options:
Food available for both early risers and night owls. During the week the only early-morning food options are Einstein Bros. and the Terrace Dining Room; the only option for starving students studying past midnight is Subway. No matter that students are hungry before and after these establishments are open. The only option for hungry students is to trek to Tenleytown to find a bite to eat or to wait it out.
During the weekend the options are even fewer. On Saturdays and Sundays, TDR doesn't open till 11 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. but doesn't reopen till 5 p.m. Einstein's, Field of Greens and Block Express stay closed, leaving students with no meal-swipe options for large chunks of time. Whatever takes the place of Pura Vida and Chick-fil-A, we hope that it will stay open for longer hours on both weekends and weekdays.
Healthful food. Compared to other campuses, AU students have no right to complain. Nevertheless, it would be nice to have a larger selection of healthfully tasty options on campus.
Vegan options. There was a lot of fuss last semester after AU was named the most vegetarian friendly campus - but what about vegan friendly? With AU's socially and ethically conscious student body, it is important that this university offers more vegan options. Furthermore, for students with dangerous allergies to milk or other animal products would have an undoubtedly safe place to eat.
Grab and go options for busy students. While Block Express is a solid, standard option for a student-on-the-go, it surely doesn't help the tired and hungry student, trying to make his way to an 8:30 a.m. class. The necessity for more grab-and-go breakfast options on campus is shown by the long lines at Einstein Bros., which often prevent a hungry student from eating before his or her class. A breakfast version of Block Express that offered egg sandwiches or wraps would satisfy a student body hungry for more breakfast options on campus.
Diversify campus food options. Thankfully, it seems that this is the direction the AU administration is leaning. Bringing an Asian or Mexican option onto campus would be absolutely delightful to a student body beaten silly by American cuisine. Burgers and fries are wonderful, but we don't need a fourth place to get them on campus.
It will be extremely difficult to meet all these requests, but we hope that the AU administration takes each suggestion into consideration. By meeting just a few of these suggestions, AU student's campus food experience could be dramatically improved.
