Spring break is an event all Langston University students are typically excited about. Finally, they get one week to relax and take a break from going to class and doing work. Most students leave campus during this week; however, some students remained on campus. During this time, the cafeteria was closed leaving some students struggling to find food elsewhere.
It wasn’t the only resource unavailable. Tevins, the restaurant right off campus, was also closed. The Langston food pantry opens once a month for three hours. The trolley, which transports students off-campus, stopped running for the week. As a result, students that had to stay on campus had trouble finding food during spring break. Students made their frustration known on Fizz, an online app were students at Langston can post and talk about their feelings while staying anonymous. Some of the cafe workers on Fizz tried warning students about the cafe closing on the app. Another Fizz user said that this had happened the year before.
Joel Gibbs, a music education major from Houston, Texas, was one of the students that stayed on campus during break. Gibbs was shocked when he found out the cafe was closed and he had to find another way to get food. “People all over campus were confused as to why the cafeteria was closed. There are a lot of limitations here and sometimes food is one of them.”
Gibbs said the cafe closed on Saturday, March 14th, two days before the start of spring break on March 16th. Gibbs managed to get some food by carpooling with other students, but said that it was a limited solution. “I didn’t have the money to get stuff ordered here because I only get paid once a month and I had to wait until that month was over to get paid.”
(The Gazette reached out to Mike Klaers the food service director and Esachia Dollison Assistant Food Service Director for comment, but did not hear back prior to publication. The Gazette also reached out to a student who works with the cafeteria to set up a meeting with cafeteria management, but that meeting was ultimately declined.)
Gibbs doesn’t blame the cafe staff for these issues; he believes situations at the cafe are the way that they are because of the company they are over, Elior Collegiate Dining. “All of the rules they have to follow goes through that company, that’s who puts up all the restrictions.”
Dollar General is the closest store to Langston’s campus that sells food. However, Gibbs mentioned how if student don’t have a car it is a long and dangerous walk to get there. “You have to cut across active traffic and there are no stop signs, so it’s very dangerous.” One summer, Gibbs rode his bike to Dollar General, but it took a long time for him to get there and back.
Gibbs idea to help students have more food is to do a cooking event with all people who cook on campus where students can go and grab a plate.
Atty Dieuveille, a junior engineering technology major from Florida, is also stayed on campus during break. Dieuveille said that his main source of food has been getting groceries from Walmart and stocking up on those just in case something happens, but he has to rely on friends for transportation. He also enjoys getting take out whenever he has the money to do so. Dieuveille and his friends went to the cafe on Saturday March 14th and were stunned that the cafe was closed.
Dieuveille thinks that the reason why the cafe was closed was because they thought the majority of people won’t be on campus so it gives them a chance to preserve food. Dieuveille thinks this because he saw a lot of students still on campus stuck there for spring break just like him.
The Lansgton community pantry was open during spring break on March 19th 3pm-6pm. This gave some students who knew about the pantry a chance to get some food. Dieuveille thinks the pantry helps the community but he mentioned how some of the food is expired.
“Last time I helped them out there were a lot of things past the expiration date. With that they need to do a complete inventory because most of the time it is old stuff.”
Other than all of those things he said he thinks that the cafe has gotten better. “They make new and different stuff it’s just not the same thing anymore.” Dieuveille also talked about how during his freshman year they had chicken fried stake every other day in the cafe. Since then, the food options have gotten better.
Because getting food is hard for some students at Langston, here are two people who sell plates on campus you can contact. As well as the Langston Trolley schedule.
Kay’s Kuttin Up Kitchen– https://www.instagram.com/kaykuttinup/
OKHoodmeals- https://www.instagram.com/okhoodmeals/
Here is the Langston trolley schedule– https://www.firstcapitaltrolley.com/langston-shuttle
POLLING DIRECTOR AND STAFF WRITER
Anthony Henry is a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Oklahoma City and he currently attends Langston University. He likes to do profile stories and cover special events in his community and on campus. He believes his work is important because of the First Amendment. Journalism is the only profession mentioned in the First Amendment and Anthony believes in the rights of the people and is willing to tell their stories. Anthony enjoys music so much; he listens to R&B, Jazz, and Hip-Hop. He also enjoys spending time with friends. Anthony can be reached at anthony.c.henry@langston.edu as well as @the.realtony3 on Instagram.
