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ccclarion.com Volume LXXVI • Issue 9 Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Good eats? Or just treats?
Price and nutrition determine what food is availible on campus, but students say they only see sugary treats and fatty snacks BY ROBERT DAVIS n STAFF REPORTER n RDAVIS@CCCLARION.COM
O
n a walk between classes, a student might have gotten hungry but noticed that the only things available on campus seem to be processed, unhealthy foods. The truth is that there are some good eats at Citrus, but they can be hard to find.
ROBERT DAVIS - STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Psychology major Kevin Ayala grabs a bag of Hot Cheetos from a vending machine in the Owl Cafe on March 20.
The two main sources of food on campus are the various vending machines sprawled all over campus and the Owl Cafe. Some students’ perception of the vending machines is that they have some pretty good junk food but aren’t a good source of nutrients. Engineering major Jason Gill said that although he likes most of the food in the vending machines, “it would be nice if we had something that wasn’t just pure sugar.” Another student, Jiovani Machoul, said he wants the vending machines to stay sugary. Machoul says that he knows the food isn’t healthy but he isn’t the type to complain. In the Owl Cafe, the perception is similar in that students like the menu but don’t think the food is nutritious. The need for nutritious food on a college campus doesn’t all come down to just personal preference. Good food is also linked with increased mental function, which is especially important in a setting where students pursue higher education. Harvard Health says that foods like berries, leafy greens and nuts are linked to better brain power, which is something to consider next time you grab a snack before going into a lecture or exam. The problem is that these types of food are much less available than the bags of Munchies and Hot Cheetos found in the
“Nutritional information is included when developing recipes for menu consideration, however, the nutritional information is not the No. 1 factor in determining if a new item is added.”
Jonathan McMahon
Representative for Pacific Dining Co.
vending machines across campus. One reason this can happen is fresh healthy food can be more of a financial burden on food providers like Pacific Dining Co, the company behind the Owl Cafe. Representative for Pacific Dining Co. Jonathan McMahon said that Pacific Dining needs to account for the price they charge students when creating a menu. “Nutritional information is included when developing recipes for menu consideration, however, the nutritional information is not the No. 1 factor in determining if a new item is added,” McMahon said. “We utilize a program, Menu Management Pro, that
Read Eats, Page 6
GradFest soothes a stressed student’s soul
Student services sets up help stations to prepare graduates for big day BY ROBERT DAVIS
STAFF REPORTER
RDAVIS@CCCLARION.COM
What’s a little rain to an event like GradFest? Despite having to move to an indoor location in the Campus Center, GradFest delivered all the resources promised for students, whether they were eligible for graduation or not. Ahtziri Vazquez, who is studying to be a doctor, said even though she won’t be graduating for a few more years, it’s cool to always be prepared. Vazquez wanted to come to GradFest to make sure she had everything lined up for her future. “A lot of (the programs) are very cool,” Vazquez said. Citrus College Dean of Enrollment Gerald Sequeira said he helped organize GradFest to “promote the graduation deadline and to get students the resources
they need for graduation and transfer.” Some of the programs also promoted their end-of-the-year events such as the Career Transfer Center that is having a transfer conference March 31. Sequeira also said the purpose of GradFest was to give students an opportunity to ask questions about graduation directly to the Admissions and Records help desk and have their questions answered faster and easier. Sequeira wanted to remind students to go fill out an order for a cap and gown at the bookstore while they attend GradFrest. Despite the rain forcing Gradfest from the campus center mall to inside the Campus Center building, Sequeira said there was still “more than a trickle of students coming in.”
One of those students was photography major Josh Alvarado, who made sure to get to GradFest by any means necessary. Alvarado walked from an art gallery through the rain until he found a friend with an umbrella and finally made it to GradFest. “I ended up in the Student Center and I see this whole big gathering.. And then I see burgers and I was like, ‘Oh great, I made it to the right place!” Alvarado said. Alvarado said he feels bad for everyone who didn’t attend GradFest because they missed out. Counselor Eric Sanzon was giving away bookmarks at the Counseling and Advisement table with QR codes that would direct students to a website where they could make appointments with counselors. Sanzon said he wanted to use
ROBERT DAVIS - STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Charlyn Garcia picks up some swag at GradFest in the Campus Center March 29.
GradFest as a way to prepare students who are graduating and to spread the word about resources that are available to all students at Citrus. One of those resources was a grad check, where students could check
their graduation requirements with a counselor to see if and when they will be ready to graduate. The deadline to apply for spring 2023 commencement and graduation is April 14.