Being on a small campus, it is expected there will only be one small dining hall. No matter how small a college community is, activities and lives still run throughout the night. Students pay extreme amounts of money for a meal plan. It is only fair students can take full advantage of that plan, which often seems out of reach due to Valentine Dining Hall’s limited hours.
You can find on the website that the dining hall’s Hours of Operation originally only lasted from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. A lot of students on campus have classes that start at 8 a.m. With the dining hall being opened right before class starts, students are unable to eat a good breakfast before getting to class. Students could eat at 7:30 a.m. when Valentine opens, but this would result in students having to rush to get class and potentially having their attendance grades marked down.
When students are unable to eat before their morning classes, it may cause excessive tiredness, which can lead to students being unfocused. Healthychildren.org states that when students eat breakfast before class, “they have better concentration and more energy.” Along with this, students who eat breakfast the morning before standardized tests have” significantly higher scores”, proving further that students who eat breakfast have better brain function, memory and attention.
Furthermore, the dining hall closes at 7:30 p.m., which can cause problems for students with late practices, long study groups, or club commitments. If students cannot make it to the dining hall before it closes, they are forced into eating other options, which may cost extra money and can be less healthy. “American Dining Creations” says bad eating habits can reflect poorly on a student’s sleep, mental health, and overall bodily health, which can all lead to a decline in academic performance. Although our campus does offer a “late-night” option, it is not offered every day of the week.
In conclusion, due to these concerns, it is clear that our University must consider extending their dining hall hours. Their current hours can negatively affect students’ academic performance, well-being, and overall campus experience. Lasell should provide a more flexible dining schedule that accommodates students with early morning classes and night-time commitments. This would show Lasell is pushing towards the well-being and success of their students.