Wingstop here, Tropical Smoothie there, Chick-Fil-A everywhere.
Does this sound familiar? If so, you may say this sounds like the campus eateries at Florida A&M University. Many students have complained about the lack of diverse foods around campus and in areas occupied by college students.
Granted, you can always drive into town to expand your taste buds and have different eating options, but how inconvenient is that for students without cars? Some members of FAMU’s student body are not fortunate enough to participate in delicious eateries on Tennessee Street, Capital Circle or Thomasville Road.
“I don’t have a car, so going outside campus to get food is hard,” said Sydney McLennan, a student at FAMU’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication. “On campus, a lot of the foods include chicken, and I went through a phase where I could not eat chicken at all, which resulted in me having to spend so much money on service outlets such as Door Dash and UberEATS.”
Often, the foods on campus are repetitive and need more diversity. When the café constantly serves hot dogs, hamburgers, and pizzas, some students become depressed, urging them to venture out and try new foods.
Jayla Royal, a second-year public relations student, shared her thoughts on the food crisis on and off campus.
“Some of the eating options provided by our dining halls are healthy, but they can become redundant,” Royal said. “Everything in Tallahassee closes early, and the options are not healthy. I think bringing unique fast-food options to campus would be better for our students, allowing them to eat what they love.”
Food is a significant way for students to broaden their horizons, try new things, and experience distinct cultures outside of their own. What better time to try while in college, when meeting people from divergent backgrounds is quite common? Sadly, most student food connoisseurs have limited options for other foods.
“I like trying new foods with my friends, and in general,” said Niyah Baldwin, a second-year business administration student. “I love to broaden my horizons in terms of my palate and taste new things because life is about trying new things. However, here in Tallahassee, there is only so much you can try because everything is the same.”
Baldwin added her thoughts about the early closure of restaurants around the city.
“We are in a college town; everything should be closing at 10-11 p.m.,” Baldwin said. “Many times, we are up late studying or doing homework, and we become hungry. With three different colleges in Tallahassee, I think businesses should be open longer than 10 p.m.”