Category: Inside Student Life

Like every college campus, Grove City College has its own insider secrets, quirky trends, and unspoken rules.

When it comes to the dining halls, it’s a whole new ballgame. Dining halls in general can be a little overwhelming. There are so many food options, and it can be a task in and of itself just finding where the silverware is located. Here are a few helpful tips and some insider knowledge for when it comes to eating in the dining halls.

1. No trays. You’ll see trays available by the silverware but hardly any students use them. In fact, trays tend to be a dead giveaway that you’re new to campus.

2. Reserve your table with a wallet, phone, or ID. When you walk into either dining hall you’ll see wallets strewn across tables. This means that the table is taken. In other words, unless the wallet belongs to your friend you should keep walking. This is normal. At other schools, students may get their food first and then find a place to sit. Not at Grove City College. It’s an unspoken rule that you reserve your table by leaving a phone, wallet, jacket, or backpack and returning to your reserved spot once you have gotten your food. (Leave your belongings at your own risk, but we’ve never seen them get taken!)

3. Avoid going to meals on the hour. The dining halls are busiest at noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and during dinner hours on Sunday. It can be a madhouse and sometimes it is impossible to find an open place to sit. My suggestion is to arrive to your meal 10 minutes before the hour. For example, if you’re meeting a friend for lunch on Wednesday at noon, if possible one of you should go in at 11:50 a.m. and grab a table. This works because many students are just getting out of class at 11:50 a.m. and will then make their way to lunch. Show up 10 minutes early and beat the rush!

4. Silverware in the gluten free section. When the dining halls get busy, it’s not uncommon for silverware to be in short supply. If you find yourself unable to find a fork or knife, try looking in the gluten free section. There is typically a full stash that has been untouched!

5. Avoid stir fry during one-on-one meals. Stir fry is awesome. You can pick your add-ins, the meat, and the kind of noodles. However, because this option is fresh and made-to-order, it typically takes a while. If there is a line for stir fry this option can take even longer. If you made plans to get a meal with one other friend, save stir fry for another time. If you’re eating with a group, that’s a different story. Avoid leaving your lone friend hanging at the table by themselves for 15 minutes while you get your stir fry fix.

6. Get creative. Don’t feel limited by what you see. If you can’t find something that interests your taste buds that day then get creative! Here are some ideas!

• Get grilled chicken from the grill line and put it on a salad.
• Use a bagel from the toaster section to make a sandwich on the panini press.
• Make buffalo chicken dip. Get chicken from the grill line, cream cheese from the toaster section and the rest of the ingredients at the salad bar. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and pop it in the microwave. Voila!
• Pour sweetened coffee over ice cubes and half-and-half for a creamy iced coffee.
• Make a grilled pizza. Put some pepperoni and cheese between two pieces of french bread (from the bread section) and grill it on the panini press. Dip it in marinara sauce from the pasta section.
• Steam your own veggies by grabbing some veggies from the salad bar and putting them in a bowl with a splash of water. Cover the bowl and microwave.

7. Get the chili. The dining halls are known for having pretty good chili. If you see it on the menu then get it!

8. Cookies. If you’re in the mood for a soft chewy cookie in a variety of flavors, head to MAP dining hall for lunch. They tend to have a great array of cookies baked to perfection.

9. MAP vs. Hicks: Students debate which dining hall is better. It is really a matter of preference. Both dining halls are catered by Bon Appetit. However, there are differences. Check out the great things about both!

• MAP
  • Amazing cookies.
  • Normally there are wraps during lunch hours, and they always have subs during lunch
  • Homier atmosphere, not as loud as Hicks.
  • Sometimes they do Sushi.
  • Fun kinds of pizza (ex. Hawaiian, bacon ranch, buffalo chicken, etc.)
  • Shorter lines
• Hicks
  • Better ice cream flavors
  • Grilled chicken and burger options at every meal.
  • Stir fry
  • Smoothies and milkshakes.
  • Breakfast for dinner on Friday nights.
  • Bigger salad bar.

10. Leave your backpack outside the dining hall. Most students will leave their backpacks outside the dining hall in a cubby, on a hook, or sitting in the entryway. It makes tables less crowded when you don’t have to figure out where to place your backpack!

It’s 10 a.m. on Saturday, you’ve just woken up and you realize you missed breakfast. It’s 9 p.m. on a weeknight and your stomach starts growling as you head into your late night studying. It’s 7:50 a.m. on Monday and if you don’t leave your dorm room now you are sure to be late to class.

Whatever the scenario we’ve all found ourselves in situations where we wish we had something to eat but couldn’t make it to the dining hall. It’s during those times that you will wish you had something quick, easy, and relatively cheap to eat from the comfort of your own dorm room. Check out this list of 10 foods you should keep on hand!

1. Tortilla chips and shredded cheese. It’s hard to go wrong here. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on some tortilla chips, zap it in a microwave for 30 seconds and voila! Cheesy nachos. Perfect for a movie night or late night studying.
2. Granola bars. We’ve all overslept. If you’re running late to class you probably won’t have time to stop in the dining hall to grab something to eat. Instead, keep granola bars handy as a grab-and-go option for rushed mornings.
3. Popcorn. This is a given. Keep some popcorn on hand as something to munch on. Just be sure to keep an eye on it. The fire alarms are easily set off by burnt popcorn.
4. Fresh fruit. Sometimes you’re in the mood for a healthier snack option. On your way out of the dining hall be sure to grab a piece of hand fruit to keep in your room for when you need something to eat later in the day.
5. Peanut butter or Nutella. They each go well with everything. Cookies, popcorn (yes popcorn), rice cakes, bananas, apples. The options are endless.
6. Ramen. This classic dorm room food and for good reason. It’s quick, easy to make, and dirt cheap. Whether you missed dinner or just need a late night snack, pop a packet of Ramen in the microwave for instant noodles!
7. Instant Oatmeal. A bit more substantial than a granola bar, instant oatmeal can be a full meal. Heat some water and pour over the oats. It’s quick and you can find oatmeal packets in a variety of flavors.
8. Trail mix. If you’re looking for an option to bring to the library that doesn’t draw attention due to smell or sound (i.e. crunchy popcorn), consider some trail mix. You can buy it in bulk. Keep some plastic bags in your room so that you can portion out a serving to take on-the-go. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty.
9. Pop-tarts. If you need a taste of your childhood, keep a box of pop-tarts in your room. They’re a good “anytime” option.
10. Cereal. Dry or with milk, cereal is a good option for a meal or a snack. You can dig in for a handful on the run or curl up with a bowl on your while watching TV.

These essentials should get you off to a great start! Don’t be caught with a growling stomach and no food to eat. Be sure to keep a food stash well stocked during the semester.

Everybody experiences stress. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Stress pushes us to stay on task, to make good use of our time, and to be productive. However, stress can easily become unhealthy when it causes sleepless nights, anxiety, worry, poor diet, and number of other side effects. It’s normal to experience stress in college. At some point during your four years of college you may have several exams in one week, a class that has been challenging you, a friendship that is experiencing some tension, and a schedule of activities that is piling up. All of these factors and more can lead to stress. Know that this stress is normal and to be expected. The best thing you can do to prepare for those weeks is to know how to handle stress. Here are nine ways to conquer those weeks that are a bit stressful.

1. Break it down. Look at your week, your assignments, your activities, etc. and break it down into baby steps. Don’t try to tackle five different tasks at once. Take it one assignment or one task at a time. Create a list of manageable steps you can take.
2. Put things in perspective. While trying your best on every assignment, remember that perfection is not expected. It’s okay to make mistakes and it’s okay if you don’t receive 100% on that paper, exam, or homework assignment.
3. Take a break and breathe. Do this. Take a break and breathe. For three to five minutes stop what you’re doing and try not to think about the task before you. Relax for a few minutes.
4. Cancel your plans with friends. It’s okay. Sometimes you will need to cancel plans with friends to make more time in your schedule. It is never ideal to cancel plans that you made but it is okay to do this every once in a while. Remember: you can reschedule plans with friends, but you can’t reschedule those due dates.
5. Talk it out. Sometimes you just need to vent about how much you have on your plate. Find a trustworthy friend, a professor, a mentor, or a parent, to talk through your stress with. It’s a relief when you find out that others have been in your shoes before or can offer some insightful advice. Some students go to the counseling center to get tips for managing stress and developing better skills for studying and managing time.
6. Do something fun. Sometimes you need to clear your head for a bit. Do something fun because often you are less productive when your mind in consumed with worry and concern. Take a walk around campus. Watch an episode of your favorite show. Grab a friend and head to the GeDunk to grab a milkshake.
7. Get sleep! Whatever you do, get sleep! And by sleep, I don’t mean a two-hour nap. Try your best to get six to eight hours of sleep a night especially during your busiest weeks. In my experience, when I don’t get enough sleep I am tired, exhausted, distracted and unproductive, all of which cause me to be more stressed!
8. Pray about it. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Remember that God cares about your schoolwork, your friendships, and your busy schedule. Make sure to seek him first in the midst of your stress. Pray about your stress and seek comfort knowing that he will guide you through it and give you strength!
9. Look ahead and plan Stress can be avoided. At the beginning of the semester gather all of your syllabi. Get a calendar and an assignment book and write down the due dates for every assignment, exam, and paper. Throughout the semester look ahead at your due dates and work on assignments accordingly, leaving enough time to do your work well. Don’t procrastinate! Procrastination always leads to stress.

Stress is inevitable, but treatable. Follow these nine steps to keep stress at bay.