CHAPARRAL

by Nancy Lopez, Disabled Student Center

       Have you ever wondered what the goal or purpose of the campus cafeteria is?  Is it to provide healthy, affordable and tasty food for our students and staff?  Is it to provide something to eat just to hold off starvation while we are on campus?  Or, is it to simply sell whatever and make a profit?  Whatever your answer, our cafeteria is probably most successful at preventing starvation.

        Don't get me wrong, I personally  eat something from the cafeteria nearly every day.  Sometimes it is something I actually prefer, and sometimes it is something out of desperation because I have no other option.  Breakfast is always a good choice, and the staff does a fine job of providing just what you order.  Soup is another good choice, though somewhat expensive at $3 for a cup of about 20 ounces.

        What you must avoid is waiting too late to try getting something to eat.  Because of the staffing cuts brought on by budget difficulties, Casa Ortega has been moved to the upstairs service area and all of the upstairs closes at 1:30 pm daily.  This leaves the very limited selection of Subway and maybe something of questionable nutritional value from CJ's snack area.  Don't count on the "new" snack shack in the Cimmarusti Science Building.  The pickings in that snack area are very slim, and since the staffing is provided by students only, the choice is even more limited.

        What about healthy, nutritious, good tasting and affordable choices?  I guess you can try a scoop of cottage cheese or a container of fruit salad.  But, what if you actually want protein or a tossed salad, or more extensive ethnic choices?  If your timing is really good, you might be able to order a veggie burger or grilled tuna melt upstairs.  However, more often than not, this is easier planned than accomplished.  If you get there after 11:45 am, the lines are so long and confusing that unless you have lots of time and patience, you will probably follow me and give up in frustration.  Some of the choices are there, the prices are tolerable, but the layout and organization of the process send me fleeing.  Where????

        How about downstairs to the lines of Subway?  Our campus Subway offers the same choices as your neighborhood Subway: sandwiches made to order, sandwich combos, and now salads.  I am pleased that we are finally offering salads and have to admit that I have not tried them yet, mostly because my lunch breaks and long lines seem to go hand in hand.

        During my years of employment at Glendale College, I have had the opportunity to visit several other college campuses.  This experience has shown me that we are behind the times and lacking in what we offer to our students and staff.  I can't think of a single campus that does not offer a salad bar where you can make your own selections and decide how large or small your serving.  Then, the salad is weighed and you are charged by the ounce.  Healthy, nutritious, and just what the customer wants!  Maybe we should try that in our failed Pacific Rim area.  The space is there and unused, and staffing needs would be minimal.

        Other staff and students will have good ideas and suggestions I am sure, but if you are like me, you don't know how to present them.  There is a Cafeteria Committee, but it hasn't met in the last couple of years.  Discussions abound on the budget process regarding the cafeteria, because it seems always to operate in the red and doesn't manage to turn a profit, let alone break even.

        We have no suggestion box in the cafeteria area, but maybe we should.  We have a very diverse and ethnically rich student and staff population.  My suggestion is that we look to this population for suggestions and solutions so that we begin to meet the needs and desires of our campus community.

        Options are available, and some choices can be made to provide what we really need and want.  In the process, we may actually break even financially while improving the health of our students and staff.

        Suggestions may be sent to CSEA and we will do our best to have all of your suggestions and concerns addressed, working toward better offerings and a healthy, affordable solution.  &

Back to top