Daily, students are reminded of the exceptional nature of Hillsdale College. From professors expecting excellence in the classroom to President Larry Arnn’s anticipation of Hillsdale being an elite institution of higher education, anything short of the best is failure. But until this school year, one area fell short of this standard of excellence: the food.
When fresh vegetables were as much of an anomaly as a Democrat at Hillsdale, things needed to change. When insects like moths, hornets, and grubs began creeping into the food, the college needed to take notice. When the Asian option included chicken nuggets, a little culinary experience wouldn’t hurt.
When the student body took to social media last spring to share its distaste for the poor food quality on campus in the form of a “Saga Sucks” Facebook page and a “@SagaSucks” Twitter account, students of their own accord substantiated their complaints about the food.
The status quo fell short of Hillsdale College’s standard of excellence.
Seizing on this frustration, the Hillsdale Young Americans for Freedom chapter started a petition which collected more than 250 signatures in two days before receiving a cease-and-desist order from the deans. The petition called for an opt-out for students who did not want to be forced to pay for food that they did not want to eat.
An opt-out alternative was quickly dismissed because of the concern that too many students would choose to opt out, making it financially unfeasible for the food provider and the school. Dr. Arnn also feared a loss of community if students decided to opt out and eat elsewhere.
College administrators tasked Hillsdale YAF with assembling a campus-wide survey to get a feel for what students wanted from a food provider. The thoughts of more than 600 respondents echoed the concerns voiced over social media and in the petition: students did not like the food.
Whether or not the food-service changes were a direct response to the petition, meetings, surveys, and students taking to social media, the unified concern from the student body created a sense of urgency that the administration could not ignore.
The college administration was already setting the stage for a transition, though. The president’s office understood the need for a change, and Dr. Arnn was not going to stop short of the best. Chief Staff Officer Mike Harner had been doing his own research into food providers in an effort to improve the campus experience.
Dr. Arnn is not shy about his desire to make Hillsdale College the best in the country. But to achieve this goal, a crucial part of student life, the dining experience, needed to be the best.
Over the summer, Hillsdale College made a major change. The college welcomed Bon Appètit to campus, and overnight, students are seeing and tasting the improvements. Rather than dreading having to go to Saga for every meal, students now look forward to swiping into the Knorr Family Dining Hall. So much so that this year’s freshmen may be the first class to truly experience the “freshman 15.”
The Asian stir-fry on Monday was a major improvement, considering chicken nuggets were no longer included. With red peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes laid out throughout the cafeteria, the dining experience became much more colorful and alive. And they are not just for show either, as each station now features fresh vegetables.
The salad bar now features three different kinds of salads, all of which are fresh and do not include insects. The dining improvements are evident in every corner of the cafeteria, and Bamco has already been able to impress.
Meanwhile, the school has held on to the things which students enjoyed most from before the transition. Steve is still there to greet you, campus is still able to gather, and community thrives. In similar fashion, as campus came together to complain about the food before, that bond will continue as students appreciate the new and improved dining experience.
Sir Winston Churchill, one of Hillsdale’s favorites, told the House of Commons: “There is nothing wrong in change, if it is in the right direction. To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to have changed often.”
When a college strives to be the best, change must be warmly welcomed.
