Saints want more choices on campus

Top row, from left: a message left by a student wanting coffee before the Riverview Cafe opened next to the library; a sign left sitting on the old Bookstore coffee shop counter; empty coolers sitting where the Bookstore coffee shop was. Bottom row, from left: the vacant Vista Dining room; a recent photo of the shelves in Barney’s Pantry; St. Helen’s Room sits empty. Photos by Martell Meacham

So, you’ve survived a month into the academic year at Mt. Hood Community College. Congratulations! Here at the Advocate, we’re excited for your success on campus. But, like us, you may have noticed our campus is still reeling from the effects of the 2020 lockdown, and the impacts it has had on the campus experience students are having today.

Pre-pandemic Mt. Hood was a lively campus with many food options and plenty of carved-out spaces for students to congregate, creating a thriving campus culture. This Fall Term, it’s noticeable how lacking the college is in these departments. Advocate staffers have commiserated on the lack of food and drink options available for students who have long days on campus, or the lack of complete meal options.

A huge part of being a successful student is sleeping well and eating well – taking care of your body and your mind, so that you can learn better and be more capable when learning becomes a challenge. Some instructors make a point to reiterate this message to us at the beginning of each term. We all recognize how important it is, yet students can’t depend on having access to complete and nutritious meals on campus.

Previously, MHCC had Vista Dining in AC2000, a large food court with indoor and outdoor seating located on the second floor on the south end of campus; Readers Cup, located where Riverview Café currently is, adjacent to the library; the St. Helens Bistro in AC2796, upstairs at the very north end of campus; and the Bookstore coffee shop right at the center of campus.

Now, only two options remain: students have the Riverview Café until 2 p.m. and the few vending machines (if they’re not sold out of options) available to them every day on campus for food options. Thankfully, there have been events on occasion in the Main Mall that provide free food and snacks to students interested, but by and large many students need to leave campus to feed themselves.

For nursing and dental students, the lack of food options on the north side of campus is particularly frustrating since the St. Helen’s Bistro closed.

Thankfully, MHCC students all have access to Barney’s Pantry, an emergency food resource created by students, for students. Students can submit a Pantry request form online to select items they would like to receive in a food box, and any student on campus with a valid ID card is able to pick up food as needed from the Pantry, located in the Student Union (AC1051).

At the Advocate, we understand that it can take time to return to full in-person operation, but it doesn’t negate the fact that many students are wondering: When will some of these amenities return, and how long will we have to wait before we have more options?

As many former student hangouts sit vacant on campus, Advocate staffers are skeptical of what will actionably be accomplished in the coming months. What will return to the student experience at MHCC? And how long will we have to operate as-is?

At the Advocate, we know that the MHCC administration is invested in the student experience on campus. We’ll continue to keep the student body updated on any changes to come for food and drink options on campus.