2008 Woodie Awards
South Campus dining, deal or no deal?
Caleb True
Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: Opinions
There is a fantastic tradition on campus of complaining about Chartwells, the corporation that runs UM-St. Louis' cafeteria, catering and meal plans.
I have never eaten regularly at the Nosh or any of the other officially-sanctioned grub joints on campus, but I have to admit I was pretty pleased a year or two ago when I found out there would be a cafeteria in the Provincial House.
I commute by bike to UMSL every day, so I maintain a pretty formidable appetite during waking hours.
It was good to know if I was running ragged on my long class days at the Pierre Laclede Honors College on South Campus, I could quickly snag a piece of pizza without high-tailing it to North Campus in the fifteen minute window I had between classes. At least, it was that way last year.
We all know that UMSL gets better and better every year regarding tuition, on-campus living, parking costs and Metrolink crime, but I was rather confounded by the new cafeteria system at the Provincial House cafeteria this year.
Two days ago, in the wee hours of the morning, I smeared peanut butter and jelly on six slices of bread, and packed my energy drink; I was planning on taking my "real" calories in between classes at the Honors College.
The one thing that seems affordable-the single slice of Pizza for around $2 with tax-was to be my one solid meal after an early breakfast and a late dinner that day. The PB&Js were stay-awake-in-class/do-not-pass-out-when-standing-up-too-quickly food.
Sadly, when I went up to the cashier, I was informed that my options did not include "just a piece of pizza" (Just? You see the grease dripping off of this bad boy?), but rather, were two very narrow all-you-can-eat deals, both over $5 and both very similar.
I know there are proper athletes out there who can put away the quantities of food to justify all-you-can-eat Chartwells, and certainly champion consumers who do not need an excuse to do such a buffet justice (I used to have such a talent), but there is just no way I can possibly eat enough to make either of those deals a good value.
I have never eaten regularly at the Nosh or any of the other officially-sanctioned grub joints on campus, but I have to admit I was pretty pleased a year or two ago when I found out there would be a cafeteria in the Provincial House.
I commute by bike to UMSL every day, so I maintain a pretty formidable appetite during waking hours.
It was good to know if I was running ragged on my long class days at the Pierre Laclede Honors College on South Campus, I could quickly snag a piece of pizza without high-tailing it to North Campus in the fifteen minute window I had between classes. At least, it was that way last year.
We all know that UMSL gets better and better every year regarding tuition, on-campus living, parking costs and Metrolink crime, but I was rather confounded by the new cafeteria system at the Provincial House cafeteria this year.
Two days ago, in the wee hours of the morning, I smeared peanut butter and jelly on six slices of bread, and packed my energy drink; I was planning on taking my "real" calories in between classes at the Honors College.
The one thing that seems affordable-the single slice of Pizza for around $2 with tax-was to be my one solid meal after an early breakfast and a late dinner that day. The PB&Js were stay-awake-in-class/do-not-pass-out-when-standing-up-too-quickly food.
Sadly, when I went up to the cashier, I was informed that my options did not include "just a piece of pizza" (Just? You see the grease dripping off of this bad boy?), but rather, were two very narrow all-you-can-eat deals, both over $5 and both very similar.
I know there are proper athletes out there who can put away the quantities of food to justify all-you-can-eat Chartwells, and certainly champion consumers who do not need an excuse to do such a buffet justice (I used to have such a talent), but there is just no way I can possibly eat enough to make either of those deals a good value.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Elena
posted 8/30/08 @ 8:57 PM CST
I read this because I assumed that it was actually regarding the quality of the food. Silly me. I used to attend MSU, and it was campus tradition to berate Sodexho, the company supplying the food in 2005. (Continued…)
Bethany
posted 8/31/08 @ 5:14 PM CST
You do know that there are food service committees dealing wit Chartwells and their services right? I've sat on one for the students living in the residence halls that are pretty much required to eat there, or at least pay for it anyway. (Continued…)
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