Food For Thought

Today, students take their meals in the French A. See Dining Center, commonly called “the caf”.  It is a beautiful facility which was built in 1995, and named for local businessman and member of the class of 1939, French A. See. They come and go at times that are convenient to them depending on their class schedules or their co-curricular activities. They choose their foods from a variety of areas where the foods are all neatly labled with nutrition information. Food allergies are taken into consideration. This information is even available online. For the past several years, they do all of that without the use of trays! (They are still available for those of us who may need them when we dine there as guests.) Dress is casual. There is open seating. 

For a change of pace, they may choose to eat at the Cat’s Claw or pick up a Grab-and-Go meal from the Sunny Buck’s convenience store. Between these three options, a student should be able to find something to eat on campus between the hours of 7:15am and 11:00pm. The Food Service is now Aladdin Food Management Service, LLC.

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All of this would look very strange to students from earlier years at WVWC.

In 1895, Ladies Hall (known as Agnes Howard Hall since 1920) opened and had a Dining Room in the basement. Meals were served family style at set times. Only the female students ate there. Male students boarded in town with families at that time as there was no dormatory for men. Girls were expected to dress for dinner, and a hostess was assigned for each table.

A College Dining Hall was located in the basement of the Gymnasium, which was built in 1912, where male students eventually ate on campus as well. The college had a Dietitian on staff to oversee the nutritional aspects of meals.

These two were the places to eat on campus for decades.

The 1952-53 Student Handbook states that the Dining Halls “serve Breakfast at 7:15 on Monday through Friday and at 8:00 Saturday and Sunday; Lunch is at 12:15 every day except Sunday when Dinner is served at 12:30 p.m.; Supper is served at 5:45 every evening. Be prompt, because the food does not wait!”

To be a Waiter in one of these Dining Halls was to be part of an exclusive group. They dressed formally, and had a great responsibility. They worked closely together in a very professional manner. In the 1950 Murmurmontis, there is even a photograph of their organization: Lambda Theta Mu.

There was a definite set of instructions for Waiters. Click here to read the Duties of Waiters, How to Serve, and Suggestions to Waiters.

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McCuskey and Jenkins

When McCuskey Hall opened in 1957 and Jenkins Hall in 1959, the Dining Rooms were located there. Today’s students have a difficult time imagining the Art Department area as a cafeteria. Likewise, the Fitness Center.  At that time, the college catalog reported that “Dining rooms at West Virginia Wesleyan College are operated by the Saga Food Service of Oberlin, OH. Menus are scientifically correct. The food is excellent and plentiful.”

The food was not, however, neatly labeled as it is today – as those of us who experienced the phenomenon known as “mystery meat” can attest.

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As the times have changed, so have the way students have their meals. From formal affairs to grab-and-go meals, from dietitians to corporate  food service companies, from strict hours for family style serving to trayless cafeteria lines, things have changed. But, the importance of these opportunities for students to eat together is still strong. This is where friendships (and some courtships) take place. This is where hopes and dreams are shared.