As you all know, the Bertrand Library Café recently underwent some renovations. To start, it looks much nicer, with new flooring and fancy food displays. Instead of being tucked away in the corner with few redeeming qualities to draw attention, it now has a very lively appearance. You will also find an excess of food and coffee options, including breakfast sandwiches and cold brew coffee. The revival of the Bertrand Library Café is truly remarkable, especially for how quick the renovation was.

But the renovations weren’t made for the reasons you might expect.

Bucknellians were tired of the same food and drink choices at the Bertrand Library Café each day. Though the two sweet women working the café always showed up to work with a smile on their faces, the limited options just weren’t cutting it. So, Bucknell students decided that changes were necessary. To enforce this change, they did the only thing that would most certainly work: they went on strike. 

Let me tell you, going a day without coffee, let alone a week, is not an easy feat for college students with ruined sleep schedules. And since the strike took place during finals week last semester, it was even harder to boycott the café, considering that the library was packed to the brim 24/7.

Believe it or not, the strike was a hit! Café workers literally had nothing to do for days on end and became bored with their jobs. Bravman was up all night deciding what his next move would be because he was losing profits by the minute. It doesn’t take a financial analyst to see that a lack of business for weeks would cause any business to plummet, but the café was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Exasperated, Bravman finally decided to take action and give the people what they wanted. On the last day of classes, Bravman sent a campus-wide email announcing the complete renovation of the Bertrand Library Café. Breakfast items would now be available, and the students could even customize their coffee orders with options such as flavor shots and sweet cream cold foam. Returning to campus this fall, the renovations are complete!

However, even today, months after the boycott took place, the students on strike have yet to catch up on their sleep schedules.

I guess that’s what happens when you separate college students from their coffee!