Every Hillsdale student — ever — has complained about our cafeteria. 

Mostly, this is because we spoiled students need something, anything to kvetch about — and, when we’re so blessed with excellent professors, community, and fellows, what have we left to disparage apart from our food?

But we’re wrong about this. Freshmen — youngsters that they are — might not believe it, but the food, service, and variety at the Knorr Dining Hall has drastically improved, even over the course of this semester. The better burgers, warm cookie Wednesdays, weekend omelettes, Sunday sundae bar, and bubbly water machine are just a few things that have made our lives better, and for these, we Hillsdale students owe you our heartfelt thanks. 

So you should know that we appreciate your responsiveness to student input. The changes are great: Keep up the good work! And as you pursue culinary excellence, please remember the gluten-free section. 

Right now, students who can handle some gluten contamination can eat from the J. Clarks burger grill and even go through the Main Plate line. If they choose, some gluten-sensitive individuals can even ask for a gluten-free pizza. These are all very helpful to the student body. Moreover, running the gluten-free station on the weekends has proved a real life-saver for many gluten-free students. The added options at the gluten-free waffle station are outstanding. 

But those who have more severe gluten allergies can’t afford to run the risk of cross-contamination, which nixes any food cooked in the fryer and gluten-free pizza baked on a gluten-contaminated plate. It’s often difficult for students with severe gluten allergies or celiac to appreciate the changes because so few of the new improvements are available to them. 

Adding variety to the gluten-free zone may not seem like much, but it would mean fundamentally improving the lives of Hillsdale’s gluten-free students on a deep, personal level. Salads — no matter how scrumptious — will still get tiresome if they’re the go-to options, day after day. 

Since Hillsdale meal plans are not optional, gluten-free students have no choice but to pay thousands of dollars for the gluten-free zone. They deserve more for their money. 

Though focusing your efforts on bringing our gluten-free options up to the same standards as the gluten-full food won’t necessarily be as popular with gluten-eating students, it will do good for those members of our campus who have to worry about sitting at a table strewn with breadcrumbs. 

And improving the gluten-free zone need not be a monumental enterprise, either. A soup, perhaps, and more than one hot meal option. The salad bar should always have some non-fried, gluten-free protein. It wouldn’t take much to spice up the gluten-free options. 

You’ve done it once already — our cafeteria food is better than ever before. The thought and attention that you’re putting into feeding Hillsdale students is evident… and excellent. 

Now do it for the gluten-free students: just because they can’t eat bread doesn’t mean their mealtimes have to be crummy.

 

Zachary Chen is a sophomore studying Greek and Latin.