From my freshman to sophomore year, Emerson slowly evolved
from being a run of the mill dining hall to a trendy college café. Emerson used
to have a similar dining set up as Chase, it really didn’t matter which dining
hall you went to, always getting the same old stir-fry. But now it not only is
a daily decision of which one to go to, but it even effects which dining plan a
student will choose. Wheaton College student Nina Shepperson ('18) said "I changed my meal plan to make sure I can go to lunch every day at Emerson."
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| Wheaton College - Emerson Dining Hall From WheatonCollege.edu |
People choose Emerson over Chase for many reasons. Emerson
was promised to be “like a Panera” and Wheaton delivered. The Panera like food
with the Starbucks coffee gives the perfect combination every college student
is looking for when they get hungry or need a good place to study. With a café
style and arguably better, healthier options, Chase is no longer an option for lunchtime.
This is along with an inviting atmosphere with couches and low lighting that is
in stark comparison with Chase’s bright lighting and glaring white design.
Buying a coffee, sitting along a window table, and doing
homework with friends has become a common occurrence at Emerson. While it has
always been popular at Baflour Hood Café, it has never reached the popularity
that is now being seen in Emerson. Therefore although Wheaton lost a dining
hall, it gained an experience.
When you say Chase is no longer an option at lunchtime, do you mean Emerson is overwhelmingly the first choice? Seems to me that Chase is going strong at lunch.
ReplyDeleteLiving on lower campus I find myself in Chase much more often for meals, or else in Davis-Spencer when I'm in the science center. On the rare occasion that I am in Emerson I often feel confused as to where to go for food, and what is on the meal plan and what isn't. Being on the meal plan with the least Lyons Bucks, I usually have the impression that there isn't much for me at Emerson unless I want to pay for it. How could Emerson change or be set up so that someone like myself could go and better understand what my options are, and feel like there's options for me that aren't at an extra cost?
ReplyDeleteEmerson does seem like a much more preferential dining hall when comparing it to the hectic nature of Chase. Now as a commuter I don't pretend to know a whole lot about these things, but from my one visit to Chase for our table talk and from a few random visits to Emerson for various reasons, Emerson has also won favor in my heart. First off, it is much quieter in Emerson, which I like very much, loud noises and large crowds aren't really my bag. I also rather enjoy the fact that Emerson lacks the harsh fluorescent lighting of a Chase or a Davis-Spencer if you will. I have also had opportunities to receive free food from Emerson before, for which I certainly can't complain.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how much the atmosphere of a dining location can change the entire experience of it. I agree that Emerson offer's a quieter, more peaceful place with more natural lighting and isolated seating. I'm curious how much this effects people choices of dining services offered around campus.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the experience at Emerson has completely changed for most. Since it turned into a cafe rather than a dining hall, most of my friends have mentioned that when they are really hungry they prefer to go to Chase, but when they want to study or feeling a sense of small hunger then they will go to Emerson and eat there. As a senior, I was here when Emerson was a dining hall, thus it is amazing to see the transformation that it underwent since my freshman year. Emerson definitely provides a different experience than what Chase does nowadays. I visit both since I have a meal plan that allows me to, but it depends on what type of experience I am feeling at the moment and how much hunger I am feeling that dictates my decision.
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