da IE NA Aa a di Li So Asai ne wl bss vn pS ath TRIN Tl i, J Page 6 The Lion's Eye pinion March 30, 2004 An editorial Cafeteria change was sorely needed Expensive is a word used to sum up Penn State, regarding a lot of things. First, it was the bookstore, then it was tuition. And now: The cafeteria. College students are on a tight budget and are finding their pockets empting quickly, especially when it comes to buying food at the PSU Delco cafeteria. Plus, the food isn't worth the price we pay. You would be better off running to the mall to eat, because the food sold here is just as unhealth- ful. And it's much cheaper at the mall. Ever heard of the dollar menus? Don’t forget about those germ-carrying flies zooming around all that uncovered food. Employees simply swat them away. Then, try to find a place to sit. Good luck find- ing a table that isn't covered in someone else's trash, or has crumbs everywhere. It may not be the employees’ job to clean up after us — we are college students, after all — but someone has to make sure we clean up. And it is the cafeteria’s job to clean the tables, more often than they do. Maybe they should hire someone for that spe- cific duty. Actually, considering you're not sup- posed to eat in classrooms anymore, this should be mandatory. : The ordering system is inefficient, ineffective and is in dire need of some major improvement. Have you ever watched someone walk away with your cheese fries, knowing perfectly well that they ordered after you? Oh, and have you ever noticed they have a number system students are supposed to use? Why don't they enforce it? Common hour is rushed. Trying to get a quick meal is completely out of the question. If you have somewhere else you need to be dur- ing common hour, don't even try ordering food; you'll have to pick and choose what's more impor- tant, eating or your meetings. The cafeteria is always overcrowded. If you're small you are fortunate to avoid being crushed, and lucky if your order is even heard. Our campus is more diverse than the variety of food offered. If you're a vegetarian, they don't really have food for you. Think of it this way: You don't have to eat their food. Keep in mind that they are gone before 3:30, so people with stomachs grumbling afterward need to find somewhere else to get some suste- nance. It isn't fair to the students who are here for night classes, but at the same time, it's more money in their pockets. Since the staff was rushed, we can only trust they were clean. We could only hope they washed their hands, and cut their foods, especially uncooked meat, on different cutting boards. The problems with our cafeteria shouldn't «exist for the money we pay. Maybe that is why ~ the school replaced management. All we can hope for is that the food quality improves, and the prices go down. Since the school decided to replace our cafeteria management, we hope they address these issues before the next academic school year begins. Yes, people should be able to get mar- ried if they wish. Lauren Musciano Communications Junior Yes, we: are in America right? Land of freedom. People should have the choice left up to them. Stephanie Hinkelman Urban Education Sophomore a Of course, in this country if we have freedom of choice and expression then why not? Katrina Rothwell African-Amer. Studies Senior Yes of course, but it is politically incor- rect and behind the times to not advo- cate same-sex mar- riage regardless of one's opinion. Cliff Kuhn-Lloyd Undecided/Music Sophomore Yes, we are a nation founded under prin- ciples of equality. The government has no right to legislate lifestyles or morality. Jeff Brenner Political science Junior | think that there should be gay mar- riage because we all have a right to choose the life we want to live. Rasheed Amoo DUS Freshman An entire college career now hangs on those frenetic and final 47 days After all is said and done, there's the emotional Forty-seven days until the beginning of the rest of my life. For those of you who are joining me in graduating this May, I feel your pain. It is ironic how I moaned and complained about college for four, OK five, long years but it is now when the real stress begins. aspect that comes into play. Am I really ready to go out into the working world? What do I wear? Did I learn enough to impress my employers? And what about just finding the "right" job? Does it even exist? Will this upcoming election influence my job poten- tial? I hear it's a cold world out there. Am I pre- pared? Things just keep circling inside me about what is to come. Did I choose the correct major? Is there Preparing to finish college has become a chore in itself: there should actually be a course offered in how to do it. Between rigging together courses that would just fit well enough to graduate on time, to making sure every loan department has the names of every living relative, close friend, and recent ly departed pets in case they cannot find me after graduation ... this semester has not been fun. Do not get me wrong, I cannot wait to graduate; it's just the minor details that are overwhelming. I keep thinking that the day is finally going to come, and I forgot to take gym or something! I always assumed that my senior year would be a breeze. You know, find the loop- something else that I may be better suited for? Maybe I should have added a minor just in case. Sometimes when sitting in one of my senior classes, I look around and wonder if I can even compete with those around me. There is nothing like second-guessing your- self just when the time is up. I guess it all boils down to hoping that I made all the right decisions during my college education, and if not I guess being a "professional" stu- dent doesn't sound so bad! I am sure when graduation day is here, I holes and just sail on through, right? Wrong! will be able to relax and enjoy it with the I thought after having all these semesters under my belt I would be used to it by now, but it appears that rest of you. Hopefully the "what ifs" and the "should've / could've" mindset should disappear, but it is this final semester that means everything. Do I until then, Class Of 2004, I hope you remembered to really want my potential employers to see that I did fulfill all obligations before May 15 ... because this is well up until the end, and ask why didn't I spend it! more time studying my last semester? Maybe instead of taking such a menial elective, I should have been taking astrophysics or something? I guess it is a little too late for all of that now. : Trying to buckle down to graduate hasn't been easy. There is a constant checklist in my head mak- ing sure things are getting done. Filing an intent to graduate, closing out the loans, making sure my grades are up, double-checking they spelled my name right for the diploma; it just doesn't end. Between juggling my life, and the closing of my education, I am trying to prepare for my new beginning... whatev- er that may be. Bring it on! PENNSTATE Editor-in-chief: Anteia Consorto THE LION’S EYE Meredith Becker Eye Contact: Contributing Staff: Charlotte Barr, Renee Blisard, Chrissy : <The Lion's Eye Would like to hear from you. Drop Greenan, Jeff Huber, Sean Orner, Julia Hagan. BA Delaware Associate Editor: « 3 Off letters to the editor in the Lion’s Eye mailbox, By County Sarah Gallath & first floor Main, or email AAC136@psu.edu, sub- ; . g # ject: Letter to editor. All letters must be signed Copy Editor: with contact info for verification purposes. Contact the Lion’s Eye: At AAC136@psu.edu.
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