I will be the first to admit I am not a big sports fan. I can sit and watch, sure, but I’ve never really been a big game nut. So while I wish our football team the best and I am sure they work very hard, I rarely attend games. I know I am not the only one of my kind in this regard.
I also have a class which meets until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. I frequently utilize the late night dining options (Howl’s, Scarlet’s, Godfather’s and the recently released Ghost Kitchen). While I can certainly survive without those dining options for one night, I know not all students in similar situations are as fortunate.
Last Tuesday, A-State Dining Services announced on their Instagram that their late night options would be closed on Thursday’s game night. They pointed out that the concession stands at the Centennial Bank Stadium would accept Flex dollars, encouraging students to “come cheer on the Red Wolves.”
The A-State Food Pantry was also closed on Wednesday and Thursday last week, which Volunteer A-State announced on their Instagram on Wednesday. Announcements about this closure were posted every day in last week’s Daily Digest emails.
I do appreciate that A-State Dining attempted to give two days notice to any students who would normally rely on their late night dining options. However, there was only the announcement on their Instagram account — no posting on the A-State student app, and during the week I saw no signage in the Wigwam Dining Hall (also known as the food court) itself, where the late night dining options are located. Unlike the Food Pantry, no announcements for the food court closure were in the Daily Digest. Unless you follow A-State Dining Services on Instagram, you had no way of knowing that the late night options would not be available last Thursday night.
I was fortunate enough to not only see the message on the Dining Services Instagram before Thursday, but have food for dinner already prepared. But what about students who didn’t know in advance and didn’t have food stocked up? What about those who can’t afford to order food from elsewhere? What were they supposed to eat for dinner?
I realize the reminder that Flex is accepted at the concession stands was meant to encourage starving students to attend the A-State vs Coastal Carolina game, but that message wasn’t properly broadcast. I bet if I asked any freshman who has never attended a football game if they knew they could use Flex at the concession stands they would be surprised. I don’t think it would make them more likely to attend football games, however.
There is one more Thursday football game coming up on Oct. 21. Should the late night food options be closed again, I hope that A-State Dining Services does a better job of informing the student body beforehand.
Categories: Opinion
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