When it comes to receiving a higher education, some still look down on community colleges, believing they are the lowest of the low. They do not see that community colleges can offer almost everything that a four-year university can offer in the way of education, as well as experience. Community colleges are also a cheaper alternative to four-year schools, given today’s economy. However, some areas that community colleges are lacking have become surprisingly crucial for students’ college experience. Many do not believe cafeterias are necessary on community college campuses; this is a problem. Cafeterias provide a central meeting place that allows students to feel satisfied with their social life, generates diversity, and permits the school to teach about healthier diets. For these reasons, community colleges should have cafeterias.
The typical community college student is seen as somebody who shows up once a week for a class, leaving immediately for their home or their job. Some students even choose to attend class online, meaning they are never on campus at all. While these scenarios are true for some students, the stereotype leaves little room for students who use community college as a fulltime vessel for communication. Many students remain on campus for a full day of classes at least a few days each week. According to Lijuan Zhai’s, “Validation of an Instrument to Measure Community College Student Satisfaction,” students who attend community college are typically trying to save money, but they are also after the normal college experience . The students who stay on community college campuses for two, three, and even four classes a day desire a central meeting place, as well as a place where they can relax and eat. Its true that many community college students are adults who are working full-time, or students who are taking classes online. Their busy lives do not leave them wanting the fulfilling social life college has promised. The remaining students, however, are left wanting a place to converge. The obvious answer to this desire is a school cafeteria.
Another reason cafeterias are needed, even on community college campuses, is because it allows students to intermingle with one another. They are able to meet people outside of their normal peer group, discovering different individuals, as well as different races and cultures that they otherwise would not have been exposed to. As stated in “Mixed Race Students in College” The Ecology of Race, Identity, and Community on Campus,” because the cafeteria is one of the only places students can converge freely, it is also one of the only places they can meet and speak to one another freely . Normally, students will be barred from accessing any class they wish to; they must adhere to their own class schedule. Therefore, they may get to know the students within their own class, but not not grow to know any others. Without a central meeting place, like a cafeteria, meeting people outside of one’s major literally becomes too expensive. A student would have to spend money taking a class they did not need in hopes of meeting somebody they could be friends with. The cafeteria not only circumvents this expenditure for the student, but it also promotes understanding and acceptance among different races and cultures. The reason for this is community college campuses are quickly becoming some of the most diverse places in the country .
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, community colleges should have a cafeteria because it gives the kitchen staff a chance to teach. Students may use the cafeteria as a meeting place, and a melting pot of cultures, but they will also come there to eat. Kitchen staff can fill the cafeteria with healthy food. Small lists of of healthy facts can be used as graphics on the tables. Blackboards and signs can also be used to educate the students on foods that are healthy, as well as what types of foods are being served in the cafeteria. Jessica Finlay and Jennifer Massey state in “Eco-Campus: Applying the Ecocity Model to Develop Green University and Green Campuses,” that four-year colleges are adopting this model and it has been wildly successful at changing the eating habits and perceptions of food among the students . The same results could be attained if they were tried at a community college. These tactics could be successful in helping fight the obesity epidemic that has overrun the nation’s youth. Not to mention the added bonus that having a cafeteria on campus, serving food that students enjoy, while providing an atmosphere that attracts them would provide more revenue for the school. Both of these are solid reasons for community college campuses to have a cafeteria.
In sum, many people believe the stereotypical community college student is not on campus long enough to benefit from a cafeteria. Though students like that exist, they only make up a small percentage of community college students. The remaining students are often on campus a few days a week for hours at a time. Furthermore, they desire a central meeting place where they can come in contact with fellow classmates, as well as students outside of their classes. Cafeterias also would allow students to broaden their racial and cultural barriers, something that would not be possible without a central meeting place. And finally, a cafeteria would allow kitchen staff to teach students how to eat healthier, in turn fighting the obesity epidemic that is still sweeping the nation and generating revenue for the school. The reasons are undeniable; community colleges need cafeterias on campus.
References
Finlay, Jessica and Jennifer Massey. "Eco‐campus: applying the ecocity model to develop green university and college campuses." International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (2012): 150-165. Article.
Renn, Kristen A. Mixed Race Students in College: The Ecology of Race, Identity, and Community on Campus. New York City: SUNY Press, 2012. Book.
Zhai, Lijuan. "Validation of an Instrument to Measure Community College Student Satisfaction." Community College Journal of Research and Practice (2012): 47-58. Article.
