It’s that time of the semester again.
Your Declining has declined to the point of no return.
Have no fear, however, as there are plenty of ways to survive around campus with little to no Declining.
If you’re looking for a consistent, easy snack, look no further than the Pit. With free crackers, peanut butter, and jelly, it’s easy to make yourself a quick peanut butter and jelly cracker-wich on the go. You can also grab a Nutella packet, if you want to do a chocolate alternative to a peanut butter sandwich.
After you’ve made yourself a cracker-wich, head over to the Physics-Optics-Astronomy or Carlson Libraries, and grab yourself some free coffee or tea.
While you can’t last on crackers, condiments, and coffee for the rest of the semester, those little snacks will help you in your time of need.
For those looking for food with a friend, find an underclassman. Many have extra guest swipes at the end of the semester.
For sophomore Jin Kim, his position as a freshman fellow sets him up nicely to get some free meals with his residents.
“As a member of [Residential Life staff], RAs, Freshman Fellows, and D’Lions sometimes ask our freshman if they want to grab lunch (and guest swipe us in.),” he said. “We just consider it hall bonding and it makes us feel a lot less guilty for mooching off our residents.”
Don’t be fooled, though, as freshman are always on the hunt for free food, too.
Freshman Deniz Kesmen said she goes to events “just for the free food.”While she finds out about events mostly through flyers posted around campus, there are plenty of ways to find events with free food online. You’re on your computer constantly, so why not use it to plan your schedule around events offering free food?
Check out the Campus Community Connection (CCC) website to find events offering free food. Start by clicking on the “Events” tab in the upper right-hand corner. From there, scroll to the bottom left corner, under the calendar, where you’ll find “Filters” and then “Perks.” There, you can click “Free food,” and the CCC will filter in only events with free eats.
For those less familiar with the CCC, University Dining Services has a Twitter account that you can follow for regular updates, including free sampling events.
On Facebook, there is a closed student group that posts about leftover food from events around campus. You’ll have to find the group yourself, but here’s a hint: it involves sharing and food.
If you find yourself friends with a fraternity brother, don’t hesitate to ask about grabbing a meal at their house. Many of the fraternity houses on campus have chefs, who may be nice enough to cook an extra meal for you. For seniors like Heesoo Ahn, who lives at Alpha Delta Phi, having a house chef gives him the opportunity to have food outside the normal offerings around campus while saving precious Declining for coffee.
Don’t overlook the simpler ways to get free food: your major department. Often major departments, such as the English department, host meet-and-greets and other events that offer light refreshments. This is a great way to meet professors and other students in your major, and save on Declining.
The Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center and the River Campus Libraries often host dialogues for happenings, both on and off campus. This is another great way to participate in campus activities while scoring some free snacks. Check postings around campus and on the University’s website.
So if you’re finding yourself struggling with grades and declining, don’t fret. The campus has plenty events around this time of year, offering you free food and friendship. Be sure to check out the CCC and flyers around campus to figure out what events are coming up soon.
