Since starting classes here at Bucknell as an East Coast native, I have needed to cure my bagel fix. Every day, I find a little piece of home in the Bertrand Library’s cafeteria. After a long morning of classes, I talk to my friend behind the counter and order a toasted plain bagel. I feel like I’m robbing the place when I pay only three campus dollars for this beauty. Compared to All Star’s $4 for a plain bagel with cream cheese, besides being 25 percent cheaper, it is 100 percent better.
After pursuing my academic prowess all morning, I need lunch. I venture to the Bostwick Social House because of its proximity to the library. Hated on by the student body, I find it a consistent spot. One swipe is free in my head. Really, it is $3,325 a semester. 144 days in the fall semester means that one full day of all-you-can-eat only comes out to $23. For lunch, I had grilled chicken and broccoli. If I went to a grocery store and bought the ingredients myself, I would have paid $7 for four ounces of chicken and $2 for broccoli. Then you have to cook it. You should make the most out of your $23 a day if you have unlimited swipes.
For dinner, I hit the fan favorite, The Bison. I buy a $7.99 build-your-own yogurt parfait bowl, which is 16 ounces of pure delight. When asked about the price, Kerry O’Day ’28 answers, “Not worth the $7 when the Bostwick yogurt bar is better (when ingredients are available).”
It should be noted that at the time of the yogurt bowl run, no yogurt or granola was found in the Bostwick Social House. O’Day goes on to say, “I don’t see why I would pay for it when I have unlimited swipes. I would rate it a 7/10, though, because I do love a good yogurt bowl.” While I agree we should make the most of the unlimited swipes, I would argue that the fruit selection at the Bison was greater. As a blueberry fanatic, I found great pleasure in locating accessible blueberries here on campus. I will disagree with O’Day as that parfait was close to perfect, winning a 9.25/10 on my scale. My total for the day is $11 in campus dollars and $34 counting the unlimited swipes plan.