Food options at Glendale Community College have been a point of discussion among students, faculty and staff for a while now. While some students are fine with the variety of dining facilities on campus, others feel like the options fall short in terms of affordability and nutrition. As the conversation regarding campus dining continues, it’s important to take a look at whether or not the current food options really meet the needs of the campus community.
GCC has multiple food spots, each offering a different selection of meals and snacks. The campus cafeteria serves as the main dining hub for students, providing a range of quick meal options. Great White Hut is in one corner of the campus, and Starbucks is on the other side of campus. Just across the street, Rocky’s Pizza and a nearby boba place give students more choices. For those wanting a bigger variety of options, the GCC cafeteria offers many foods to choose from.
Even though there are a lot of food choices in terms of variety and convenience, students like Morgan, a former GCC student, feels like the prices are high. “It’s just shy of affordable,” Morgan shared in a recent interview. “I remember paying $14 for vending machine carbonara, which is a bit much for something so basic.”
While some students feel the food options are fine, many have concerns about the prices being too high. Morgan recalls getting by on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from the bookstore because it was one of the cheaper options. “It wouldn’t hurt to have something students can grab for free, just to ease the burden a little,” she suggested. While free meals aren’t realistic, small things like fruits could make a difference for students on a budget.
Many students prefer to bring their own food or go off campus to find cheaper alternatives. The cost of campus meals might make students not want to eat on campus, which could affect their experience and even their focus in class.
Morgan, who graduated last year, still remembers the discussions around campus food. “There was decent availability, but affordability was always an issue,” Morgan commented. She added that students shouldn’t have to choose between eating a good meal and saving money.
As a former student, Morgan understands how hard it can be to juggle school and finding affordable, healthy food. “It wouldn’t hurt to offer some basic, accessible options,” she said. Small changes, like, cheaper meal deals or more budget-friendly snack options, could make a huge difference for students trying to balance school and expenses. Morgan believes these adjustments could positively impact student well-being by providing more convenient and budget-friendly options on campus.
Overall, GCC has decent food options, but many students feel like they don’t really meet their needs. The cost of food is a big issue, and having more affordable, healthy choices would make a big difference. As the conversation continues, there’s clearly room for improvement in making sure all students have access to good meals. Whether it’s free snacks, lower prices, or more variety changes like these could help make GCC a better place for everyone.
Farah Al Humairi can be reached at [email protected].