Limited Food Options as More Students Return to Campus
By Jeffrey Perdomo
As campus reopens, the typical college experience returns after a two-year long hiatus. Students are taking in-person classes, participating in sports, as well as accessing the library and taking advantage of the opportunities that were lost during the pandemic. Yet the highlight of any college experience has always been the food.
Prior to the Pandemic, the college offered The Underground Lounge in the Lower Level of the Music Building. According to the College website, it offered a variety of food for students ranging from salads, sandwiches, pizzas and even Asian cuisines. The lounge sat up to 800 students, giving it a more traditional college cafeteria feel for students to hang out. The college also offered the Carman Cafe located in Carman Hall, allowing students to buy pastries and coffee.
The Lehman community usually get notifications from the Business Office with images of two flyers sent to their campus emails. Pictures of muffins, empanadas, sandwich wraps, and smoothies littered across the message. There is also much needed information such as hours and where these treats are located on campus. This semester is no different.
On campus this semester, students only have three options to choose from. They can visit the returning World Cup at Harmony Cafe located in the Music Building and try the baked empanadas, salads, soups and sandwiches with a free bag of Lays chips. The Cafe now offers limited seating but primarily is seen as a grab-and-go option for students.
Students can also try out the special Farmer's Fridge vending machine, not to be confused with the regular vending machines around campus. Located in the lobby area of Shuster Hall, it provides healthy options for students, including salads, snacks, and tofu that are packed in 100% recyclable jars.
Lastly, students can choose The Little Hot Dog Wagon every Wednesday behind the Fine Arts Building.
The wagon offers not only hot dogs but also a wide variety of burgers, grilled chicken and their homemade specialty kraut. The business is owned and founded by Dawn Demery, a former CUNY employee who lost her job due to budget cuts. Since the Wagon’s inception back in 2018, it has been featured on Thrilliest.com and has been featured in a video to promote the NYC Small Business Services’ ‘Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grants program.
While these options sound great, many students have run into some issues. One freshman student named Cindy said she wishes she had more options to eat on campus. This would lead students to leave campus to enjoy a meal. Others like Hypathia, a junior, don’t have that luxury. Since her schedule has in-person classes three days out of the week, she doesn't have the time to travel off-campus to get food between classes. With so few options, she and many others are stuck with what is available.
Another student named Dayna commented that she preferred off campus food to the choices on campus.
“The prices are okay,” she said, “but a little excessive,” she added in reference to a recent purchase she made at the Cafe.
Another complaint was about the newfound experience of eating on campus. A freshmen student named Justin said there should be more staffing at places like The Harmony Cafe. He believes there should be at least two registers in order to keep traffic moving with no long lines.
According to the Assistant Vice President for financial operations Gina Harwood, the college doesn't have a vendor to provide full-time food service operations at this time. She added, “Our former contract expired during the pandemic and we will need to bid to obtain a new one.”
Normal cafeteria options for students won’t return unless the campus reaches a deal with an outside vendor to help serve students. Hardwood says she hopes to have food options available as soon as possible. She also added that students should expect to see The World Cup expanded to Carmen Hall soon.
In the meantime, students will have to exhibit patience, as the campus works to expand food options for students in the near future.
CUNY Students Protest Against Privatization of Campus and Tuition Hike
(Photo Credit: Melissa Tejada)
By Melissa Tejada
Since Dec. 2019, students from Hunter, Baruch and Brooklyn colleges have participated in a series of protests led by the Free CUNY movement denouncing the fact that campus administrators have granted campus access to outside industries, increased students' tuition and cut program budgets.
During the Starbucks at Hunter hearing on Jan. 27, 2020, CUNY students shouted: "What do we want? Freedom! When do we want it? Now! If we don't get it? Shut it down!" The demonstrations ended on Feb. 4, 2020, when campus officials outvoted Hunter fine arts students attempting to keep a space for galleries and a possible food pantry.
The protests regarding the addition of Starbucks began on Jan. 13, 2020 with a public hearing at Lehman's Center for the Performing Arts, where Hunter students gathered to condemn the addition of the Starbucks on the Hunter campus and what they characterized as the officials' abuse of power. They were followed by protests on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.
Hailey Lam giving her testimony at the Starbucks Hearing. (Photo Credit: Melissa Tejada)
At the Starbucks hearing on Jan. 27, Hunter sociology junior Kana Tateishi directly targeted Hunter's President, Jennifer Raab, who was not present. She called Raab “a coward for hiding this from your own students…The decisions you make behind closed doors have tangible effects on our lives; your shameless apathy is revolting."
According to President Jennifer Raab, at the Jan. 13 meeting on facilities planning, Starbucks will provide a space “to be able to sit on the campus,” and the revenue from Starbucks could be used for renovations on campus as needed.
While it stood vacant from January – May of 2019, students used the Starbucks space as a pop-up community art gallery that attracted local gallery owners and collectors who attended their events in support of the Hunter community.
According to a video posted by CUNYMedia’s YouTube page, proposals for a lease with Starbucks included 1,959-square-feet on the ground floor, as well as 1,000-square-feet at Hunter’s west building on the lower level at 904 Lexington Ave. There is an initial term of 10 years and eight months, with two five-year renewal options.
The video claims the annual rent for the facilities is $411,290 for the first five years, $452,529 for the remaining time in the 10-year 8-month term. First renewal rent would be $497,781; second renewal is 95 percent of fair market value. The rent is included for the 1,959-square-foot space on the ground floor; rent for the west building location on Lexington Avenue has not yet been disclosed.
Students also opposed actions they saw as exclusionary or lacking transparency. Briana Calderón Navarro, Hunter College studio- art senior, complained: "They approve tuition increases during finals week.” Students claim that the dates were chosen strategically to decrease students' input activity while the administration made the decision for the tuition hike.
This tuition increase, which will be in effect for the academic year of 2020-2021 for all campuses, comes to $320 annually, $200 for general tuition and $120 for "health and wellness."
Despite tuition increases, Tateishi described how the campus is falling apart. "Hunter ceilings were leaking just this weekend,” she explained. “Buckets were laid out around the school to catch the leaks, entire library floors were closed off without any plans for repair. There are holes and openings in the ceilings, and open electrical wires are displayed on multiple walls around the school.” Whether or not the revenue will give priority to these renovations has not been decided.
Professor Vani Kannan at the Starbucks Hearing. (Photo Credit: Melissa Tejada)
Navarro also pointed out the lack of transparency from Hunter administrators regarding third-party companies using the CUNY campus with a YouTube video showing Hunter's gym used by Gucci for the 2019 Met Gala Afterparty. Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Emma Stone, Shawn Mendes, Tiffany Haddish, Emma Roberts, Dua Lipa and Trevor Noah were among the celebrity attendees. While students were studying for finals, preparations were being made for the party without informing the students.
A Hunter student on the video said, "I don’t think it’s cool to be hosting celebrities in our gym when we can't host students."
The meeting also addressed problems students encounter on campus when they speak up.
At a tuition hike protest on Dec. 17, 2019, Brooklyn College English and political science double-major senior Hailey Lam said, "They taunted me and handcuffed me.”
Hunter students plan to raise awareness against campus privatization through an online petition on change.org named "NO STARBUCKS AT HUNTER COLLEGE! PETITION FOR COMMUNAL SPACE FOR STUDENTS," it now has more than 900 signatures and remains active.
Lehmanites Condemn Racist Responses to Coronavirus Fears
(Photo Credit: Pixabay)
By Sally Barrilla
“Personally, I haven’t encountered any prejudice, but I have heard of some cases going around in New York City, like a taxi driver wouldn’t let an Asian lady in,” said Jayke Lim, an Asian-American Lehman computer science sophomore. “I understand the fear, but it’s not right to deny services to Asians thinking that they might have the virus.”
Increased fear of the coronavirus has sparked a number of xenophobic attacks. The New York Post reported that on Feb. 4, 2020, an Asian woman claimed she was attacked while wearing a protective mask in a subway station in Chinatown by a stranger who hit her on the head, pushed her into a wall and shouted insults.
Other Lehman students agreed that such behavior is unacceptable.
“I was in a CVS pharmacy when I overheard some people saying Chinese people are disgusting because they eat rare or strange foods. It's scary, but it doesn't have to make people hate an entire race,” said Lehman junior and English major, Marissa Morales.
“There’s no need for people attacking innocent people over the coronavirus,” said Jonathan Cruz, a Lehman biochemistry major.
(Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The Bronx is home to less than 5 percent of New York City’s Chinese-American residents, according to the Asian American Federation. Queens houses 40 percent, Brooklyn-37 percent, and Manhattan-19.
Since its outbreak in December last year, most of those infected by the virus are in mainland China. As of Feb. 23, 2,470 people have died; 2,444 in China and 78,993 have been infected, according to CNN.
Currently, the United States has a total of 35 confirmed cases, according to National Public Radio, with seven people undergoing testing for it in New York. USA Today reported that the Center for Disease Control says the virus is “likely” to spread to the U.S. In the meantime, fears have spread much faster than the virus itself.
“I think when people hear the words ‘virus’ and ‘death toll’ they get freaked out,” said Jasmine Barber, an undeclared freshman at Lehman. “It is alarming that a lot of people are getting infected and killed within less than a month. Everyone’s best bet is to stay healthy and continuously wash their hands.”
“People have a tendency to freak out about things,” said Lehman English Professor Crystal Curry. “More people die of the flu, but perhaps it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”
Lehman’s Director of Public Safety, Fausto Ramirez, said via email: “CUNY asks its faculty and staff to be prepared to accommodate, to the reasonable extent possible, students and employees who are affected by this outbreak. If a student feels anxious or is worried about friends and family because of the news about coronavirus, CUNY encourages them to contact Counseling and Health Services or campus Student Services.”
“There’s no need for people attacking innocent people over the coronavirus.”
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio also warned residents to take precautions, including to immediately go to the nearest emergency room if flu-like symptoms arise and wash hands frequently.
Lim said he does not feel threatened on campus, and praised its inclusivity. “Lehman has always been supportive of all races, medical, personal, and other issues,” he said. “I’ve had friends and relatives ask me to send flu masks because there’s actually a huge shortage of flu masks in Asia right now. The fear in Asian countries is a lot higher than it is here, though.”