By Emily Suhr
For Brooklyn College students, finding a meal on campus shouldn’t be hard. However, since the cafeteria closed during the pandemic, students have been left with a patchwork of food trucks and vending machines that fall short of providing accessible and safe meal options, especially for students with dietary restrictions.
A permanent, dedicated dining space would be a major step forward in ensuring all students have access to food, in addition to providing a place to socialize and connect with peers. It seems this won’t be happening any time soon though.
“There’s definitely still a push to get a full-time vendor on-campus, but unfortunately, after COVID, the catering business has changed, and it’s much harder to find a vendor,” said Noam Abrahams, president of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). “The college has been negotiating with several vendors over the past year, but unfortunately efforts are slow going.”
Instead, Brooklyn College depends on a rotating schedule of food trucks to provide students with meal options. On the surface, it might seem like a decent alternative. However, while these food trucks offer some variety, they fail to accommodate students with dietary limitations. There are no alloted vegan, vegetarian, or allergen-free options, and the risk of cross-contamination is high. This poses a serious challenge for students with food allergies or medical conditions that require strict diets.
As a vegetarian, this means choices are limited to the pizza truck or the egg and cheese sandwiches at the breakfast truck. For Eddy Prince, a first-semester transfer student, the lack of meatless options means not eating on campus at all. “I am religious, Hindu, so we don’t eat beef, and pork is just a health concern,” said Prince. “Pork is not the most healthy, so that’s why I avoid it.”
“Food trucks have always been expensive to me, and they’re kind of boujee,” added Prince. Regardless of whether you’re on a budget or not, the cost adds up quickly. Not everyone can pay $12 for a personal pie every time they’re on campus. This leads to skipping meals or buying a less filling alternative, neither of which contribute to the overall well-being of students. In the long run, this will lead to even more stress for students attempting to balance dietary needs with finances.
Of course, you could always try a vending machine if you’re looking for meatless food. “Brooklyn College has several mobile food vending partners that offer vegan options,” said Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications Catherine Freeland. “On a standing basis, Matto Espresso on the East Campus and there are Farmer’s Fresh vending machines located in the library café and the West Quad.”
However, vending machines are not a sustainable solution. They’re good in a pinch or if you just need a snack, but they do not replace a full meal. Students need a dedicated dining space that not only provides variety but a sense of community. The absence of on-campus dining choices leaves you with a feeling of disconnect from the overall campus experience. If you have to leave right after class to eat, you are missing out on making friends or even just having the chance to relax between lectures. This can make college an isolating experience, especially when you’re a new student.
While Freeland expressed optimism about the future of food on campus, stating that BC is “actively working toward expanding vegan and vegetarian options soon,” the progress remains frustratingly slow. According to an email from Alan Gilbert, the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, BC had been working to get a new food service provider in the fall. However, “The board ultimately decided against the only viable vendor from the original Request for Proposals (RFP) due to financial concerns that would have impacted other critical initiatives, including commencement.”
The choice being between more diverse food on campus, which would greatly improve the student experience, or graduation, is troubling. It pits basic needs against one of the most important days in a student’s life. Graduation should not have to come at the cost of everyday quality of life.
The ongoing delays and lack of a permanent solution has left students without a much-needed resource, one that could dramatically improve their campus life. Students like Prince would be able to sit down and enjoy a (meatless) meal, socialize, and truly feel like part of the BC community. Having no proper cafeteria is a tangible gap in student life.
As Prince said, “They just say, ‘This is our cafeteria!’ ‘It’s just a room with tables!’ ‘Bring your own food!’ That’s not a cafeteria, it’s a room.”