OPINION
BY JENSEN PUCKETT
FOOD OPTIONS ON CAMPUS HOW ARE STUDENTS WITH FOOD ALLERGIES SUPPOSED TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES?
I
started at Long Beach in the Fall of 2020 and when
campus. Don’t get me wrong, there is the “caffeine
I came to campus, I knew it wouldn’t be as lively as
couldn’t wait to be able to go to places like The Nugget
lab” that sells Starbucks coffee, but it’s like a conve-
when I had toured in 2019, but I told myself it would
and Starbucks in the University Dining Plaza (UDP) in
nience store that sells coffee and not an actual Star-
get better as we reopened. When I lived in the dorms
between classes, and I would love to be able to get
bucks. Of course, I didn’t live here when there were
in the fall of 2020, it was a ghost town and I didn’t
a sandwich, but I’m gluten-free and unfortunately,
better options, but I did some research, asked around
know what restaurants would come back. Later that
Subway has no gluten-free bread. What on campus is
and looked back at what I saw when I toured. Did you
semester, The Outpost reopened. Students were
gluten-free that I can eat? A salad from Subway, some
know that the UDP used to have Panda Express, a real
excited because we could finally go do something
fruit and select bars from the convenience stores, fries
Starbucks, Squeeze Me, OPA! Greek & OLE! Tacos,
on campus. It wasn’t much and honestly, the options
from Carl’s Jr., a smoothie, and a few things from El
The Beach Walk Cafe, and then of course the most
on what to eat were limited, especially since I have a
Pollo Loco. There are not a lot of options for people
renowned Nugget Grill & Pub right next to it? Imagine
gluten allergy, but it was something, I guess.
that have allergies or other dietary restrictions, which
being able to get those food options anytime you want
is outrageous for an “inclusive” campus.
while on campus.
Fall 2021. I finally had classes in person and was told places would start opening up on campus again. I
There were and still are little to no food options on
Also, having a cafe and juice bar provided health-
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Nov Issue Rough 2.indd 10
10/31/22 2:56 PM
