NOV 7, 2024 | OPINION | By Megan Neton
Food is the basis for human happiness, at least the basis of survival. Humans eat not only for nutrients but also for enjoyment. A good crispy slice of pizza, a rich cup of coffee or simply an edible meal is supposed to be something we can reliably find… unless you’re on the full meal plan at Colorado College. In fact, one of the only times the food quality on campus improves is when prospective students, alumni or parents come to visit.
This past weekend, alums flooded to campus to visit their alma mater and reminisce about their days lying on the quad, watching hockey games and making lifelong friends. With the return of alumni came something perhaps even more disturbing — a noticeable shift in the food quality on campus. The CC dining gods descended from above, sprinkling flavor and quality grub onto our plates.
This shocked me; did CC really think it could butter up our guests? I was surprised to learn that CC only aims to satisfy the taste buds of individuals when trying to turn alumni into donors or high school seniors into incoming freshmen.
This Saturday, I went to Colorado Coffee with a friend after recording our radio show. The line was longer than usual when we arrived, but I didn’t mind; it was heartwarming to see alumni on campus, especially when they knocked on my dorm door at 9 a.m., just to share that they lived in my dorm when it was built in 1951. Anyways, the coffee at Colorado Coffee usually has a gritty taste that I don’t necessarily enjoy. However, when my friend let me try his iced vanilla latte, I was surprised that it slid pleasantly down my throat. Who knew that hundreds of millennials and baby boomers on campus would improve my Saturday morning pep-up?
Just a few weeks ago, when 400 prospective students came to Campus on Oct. 12 through 14, Rastalls ascended to new levels of culinary excellence. For Saturday brunch, they served BACON. It is important to mention that this was the first time Rasty’s has served bacon this year, to my knowledge. I didn’t even attempt to get a piece because the thought of fighting a swarm of high schoolers and their parents didn’t exactly scream “Saturday fun.” But still, the fact remains: bacon was possible, and all it took was a crowd of hungry 17-year-olds to bring it out.
A friend of mine nearly contracted Salmonella in Rasty’s when he thought he was eating salmon. Except this meat wasn’t salmon; it was raw chicken. Shockingly, this isn’t the only case of students accidentally eating or encountering raw chicken. Since August, students have been posting pictures of raw chicken on YikYak. A top-tier liberal arts college should take pride in providing whole grains, organic vegetables and hormone-free protein.
Another issue with the food on campus is the lack of options for those with allergies. My sister discovered she had celiac disease during her freshman year of college, and I have seen firsthand how much her life has changed since her diagnosis. Cross-contamination is no joke, and the food options on campus are minimal. One of my friends was on a dairy, gluten and sugar-free diet. I’m not sure what she could eat even before she came to CC, but her diet had to end because of the lack of options.
With CC being nicknamed the ‘Ivy of the West,’ watery pasta sauce, raw chicken and wilted lettuce are not acceptable for students expected to perform in this atmosphere of academia. I talked to one of my friends about this when he told me, “I’m not motivated to write a paper if I have to use the bathroom every ten minutes because of the Rasties blasties.” Like every other kid at CC, I must ask, “Where is my money going?”
At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: a meal that doesn’t play us for a fool. Since Colorado College charges a mighty price, it’s time to serve food that matches its weight in gold. So here’s my plea: less grit, more bacon and maybe — just maybe — less raw chicken. Our tuition isn’t going down anytime soon, so the least we can hope for is a plate of food worthy of our campus and wallets.