Smoked turkey, glazed ham, candied yams and sweet potato pie are just a taste of many foods expected for a Thanksgiving feast held in the Cafe.
On Nov. 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. students can venture to the Cafe for a feast like no other. The cost, for those not on a Meal Plan, is $5.96. “Trends show that students leave early, so we have two special meals,” said Terry Woodard, general manager of Sohdexo. Students on campus for Thanksgiving can anticipate the annual dinner.
DeAnthony Friday is one student who will be on campus. Unlike many students, he couldn’t go home for the break.
“I didn’t have money for a plane ticket,” said Friday, a freshman biology student from Los Angeles, Calif. He will be staying in his dorm for the holiday and plans to eat in the Cafe on the day of thanks.
However, Friday won’t be spending Nov. 24, alone. “We feed about 100 to 300 students during the holiday,” said Woodard. Friday will be joined by other students who choose (or have no choice) to spend their Holiday in Tallahassee. It could possibly be a chance for him to meet new people.
Friday was also anxious to attend events on campus. However, no events have been held for students left on-campus in over 8 years. “I am guilty of not presenting the idea of a campus Thanksgiving,” said Sandra Inge, associate director of Student Activities. Inge decided to try and make a change this year.
Inge held a meeting during the week of Nov. 1, to discuss ideas for the holiday weekend. She brought the idea to several of her student workers. Unfortunately, nothing was planned.
“No forms were filled out for a Thanksgiving event,” said Inge. On campus students can only look forward to the dinner held in the Cafe.
The traditional dinner will take place on Thanksgiving Day from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Cafe will be operating on reduced hours with reduced staff from Nov. 24 to 27. Two meals will be served each day throughout the holiday weekend. Brunch, which is a hearty breakfast and lunch, will be served from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m and dinner will be served from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Students are encouraged to invite a guest.
“I will be going to the Cafe with my roommate,” said Friday.
Students should fill their stomachs because they, nor their guest, will not be able to take food out of the Cafe. Students shouldn’t worry about being served leftovers because Woodard promised “a fresh meal everyday.”
Contact JaNay L. Theodore at Janay1.Theodore@famu.edu