When I first visited Hillsdale in 2021, my tour guide emphasized the intentionality behind the iconic round tables in the dining hall. He talked about the deeper meaning behind the stylistic choice, and how it promoted equal discussion amongst peers and so on and so forth. Though I do agree that a round table provides better ease of conversation, and it’s often easier to hear everyone seated at the table, I believe that the long tables to the right of the fireplace in Saga are better than any other table option offered.

During the first two months of my freshman year, I spent a lot of meals sitting at different round tables, which were often filled with a medley of freshmen girls who had met once or twice during orientation weekend and all pretended like they remembered each other’s names for the duration of the meal. I soon found, however, that a round table was not as inclusive or practical as they had once seemed. There is a fatal flaw to the round table’s design, which is disguised by its welcoming external appearance, and that is its lack of space.

As freshman year progressed and friendships began to settle in, my friends and I found ourselves looking for “our spot” that we could eat at everyday. That spot, whether we liked it or not, became the long table. At first, I was reluctant to sit at a long table. It felt almost distant from the rest of Saga, and all of the empty chairs were daunting. However, our group of new freshmen friends found that the abundance of seats allowed for more people to join, which allowed for us to meet new people and develop more intentional relationships with acquaintances.

Sophomore singer-songwriter and long table enthusiast Emma Church said, “the long table is a place for everyone.” Fellow sophomore Olyvia Overman said she agrees with Church, and that long tables are a great way to meet new people.

Part of the appeal that drew my friends and I to the long tables was the family-style environment. In contrast to having to cram chairs around a crowded round table, we found it much easier to sit shoulder to shoulder and across the table from each other rather than awkwardly being cramped together at a round table, where we would have to pull up extra seats or not have enough room for new people to join.

Sophomore Alysha Katterheinrich’s said her favorite thing about long tables is their openness. 

“They really are so open,” Katterheinrich said. “They often look more open than a round table because anyone can come up and sit down. It creates that open atmosphere for new friendships, and just feels so inviting.”

One of my favorite memories sitting at the long table was when we celebrated our friend Carissa Nisly’s birthday. Due to our busy academic schedules, we weren’t able to go out and celebrate her birthday off campus, so we decided to surprise her with a group dinner at the long table. We bought flowers for the table, brought in gifts and cards, and all sat in community together to celebrate her birthday with the time that we had. 

“It was touching to walk into what was supposed to be a normal dinner to see flowers and my friends gathered in community,” Nisly said.

Memories like this are what makes the long tables special. Though they are often overlooked by students, and sometimes give the appearance of being a place to eat and study in isolation, the long table offers the unique opportunity to dine in community with a multitude of people.

Overall, whether you prefer to eat at round tables or long tables or booths, the Saga dining experience is frankly one that is unparalleled. However, if you have the chance, you should try out a long table, it could end up being your new favorite place in Saga.

Gray Turner is a sophomore studying the liberal arts.