10-13-2024 Education - Flipbook - Page 5
The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, October 13, 2024 5
Salisbury students can enjoy local art while dining.
UMBC students can sample a variety of dishes that celebrate different cultural heritages.
Food lockers help CCBC tackle food insecurity.
Food for thought
Dining halls celebrate cultural diversity and tackle food insecurity
By Gregory J. Alexander, Contributing Writer
W
hile Vunnathi Ankem, a junior at
University of Maryland, Baltimore
County majoring in psychology,
acknowledges that, yes, pizza and
cereal – two longtime staple items
of college dining halls – are available at UMBC,
there is much more sophisticated and interesting
culinary offerings available to her and her fellow
students.
“There is such a variety of cuisines available.
UMBC has so many international students, so
you can find sushi, Indian food, vegetarian and
vegan offerings, and Halal and Kosher entrees.
They do a great job of keeping up with students’
tastes and trends,” says Ankem. Ankem is a
resident assistant in the Shriver Living Learning
Community and says that UMBC routinely
engages with students to gain feedback.
“Also, they work with us to promote Retriever
Essentials, which tackles food insecurity at
UMBC to make sure that incoming freshmen
are aware of the resources that are available,”
she says.
“Food is so much more than just grabbing a
meal in between classes. It’s an important part
of connecting and making new friends. My
friends and I get together all the time over a
meal. Everyone has certain dietary restrictions,
but UMBC does a great job of accommodating
those, too,” says Ankem, who adds that the cooking classes at UMBC are also a great way to get
together with friends.
Ankem says that – especially for international students – having diverse culinary options
is comforting.
“People enjoy familiarity. I know I miss my
mom’s cooking, but UMBC provides a slice of
home in the dining halls.”
Michael Clemons, executive director of
UMBC auxiliary services in the division of
administration and finance, says that in order
to deliver quality food, engaging regularly with
students and staff at UMBC is important.
“We have a student dining advisory committee that provides great feedback; they can really
shape decisions on areas such as menus and
operating hours. Students also give us feedback
online, whether it’s positive or negative. Our dining services team also attends campus events to
get hear how we are doing and work with student
groups such as the Hindu Student Council to
help create an authentic meal for holidays such
as Diwali,” says Clemons, who adds that focus
groups with students and staff also ensure that
UMBC is delivering what students want.
“Our students have high expectations, so
we are constantly tailoring menus by adding
items such as boba tea, ramen, Udon noodles,
brick-oven pizza, Indian cuisine, and fresh baked
breads. We are also sensitive to dietary needs,
whether they be medical or religious. We want
students to feel comfortable here with a sense
of belonging, and food plays an important role,”
says Clemons.
Food also plays an important role in academic success – it’s a known fact that students
who are hungry do not perform as well as those
who are well nourished. With this in mind, the
Community College of Baltimore County has
recently expanded its services to combat food
insecurity via the installation of food lockers that
can be accessed any time of day or night.
“More than 60% of community college students face food insecurity, as many of them
come from some of the most vulnerable parts of
the population,” says Dell Hagan-Rhodes, director of student engagement at CCBC. “Most are
receiving Pell Grants, and many come from lowincome backgrounds. You cannot excel if you are
worrying about where your next meal is coming
from, and we want our students to focus solely
on their academic performance.”
Hagan-Rhodes notes that while CCBC has
Food for thought,
continued on page 7
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