Change is a constant in the life of a college student, but for first years at Baylor, one thing remains, dining hall food.
*collective groan*
But wait. Dining hall food isn’t all bad. In fact, it is mostly quite good.
It can be hard to see when your life consists of meals two or three times a day from the same dining locations, but the benefits of ready-made food far outweigh the costs.
For starters, some of it is pretty delicious.
I was dismayed to hear some freshman students refer to The Penland Crossroads as P-Nasty. Three years ago, before the renovations and expansions, back when The Penland Crossroads was just Penland Dining Hall, that was nasty. The Penland incoming freshman know? That’s more ‘P-not quite my mother’s cooking’.
Whole dining halls have upped their game (hello, 1845 at Memorial), and old favorites, like Ms. Mei’s cookies, flying saucers, and the southwest chicken salad, remain.
It’s clear. The food is pretty delicious. Yet some of you continue to complain.
Here’s my follow up question: Could you do any better?
Oh, wait. Let me clarify. With your current schedule– classes, extracurricular activities, and social gatherings–in those small free spaces you have, could you cook something more sumptuous than what is being offered to you?
For most of us, the answer to that question is a resounding no.
I found that out the hard way. It is not until you are left to your own devices that you figure out if you are a good cook. Turns out, I’m not.
In the year I have been cooking for myself, I have burned bread, cracked eggs while attempting to boil them, and destroyed chicken (Avoid my mistake. Cut the fat out of chicken before cooking it.)
To be fair, all of these things occurred in an old apartment where the knob to set the oven’s temperature often fell off, leaving my roommate and I to guess what temperature the oven was.
Long story short, dining hall meals are much easier. If you still have the urge to cook or bake, then utilize those dorm kitchens.
Beyond ease and deliciousness, there are few things that can create community like eating in a dining hall. To eat with a large group of friends at a dining hall, send a quick text message, or bump into them on the way. To do the same in an apartment? That will take many more texts and some preparatory grocery shopping.
I get it. The negative thoughts about the dining hall experience is one of those things that draws on-campus students together. Who am I to stop this age-old tradition of college students being dissatisfied with their dining halls?
Hear these thoughts and store them in a safe place. Before the year is up, take some time to appreciate the good in on-campus dining. There’s nothing like an inviting place filled with hot food, smiling people, and dishes you don’t have to do.
For more information about on-campus dining locations, visit http://baylor.campusdish.com/.
Kara Blomquist is a senior BIC student majoring in linguistics.