Handschumacher: Hall Of Genius

After giving it some thought, I wanted to write about an unconventional aspect of Drexel life that could be argued to make us smarter. Sure there is classroom learning, social events that create intelligent and fun interaction, and city living 101, but there's one aspect that seems to be taken for 'granted'; the Hans. 

This is my second year at Drexel and since school started I've only eaten at the Hans twice. Last year by this time with the addition of having the required 'Gold Plan,' I probably would have eaten there at least 20-25 times by now, assuming at least twice a day and perhaps a weekend snack or two. Why is there such a decrease and what about the Handschumacher made myself and my classmates smarter?

When one first enters the Hans you must first learn the ways of the Hans; the card swipe, the tray, the picking of the meal, the drink, the utensils, finding a table, dessert, and clean up, perhaps with a variation between steps. Now instead of a limited choice of meals prearranged with all the necessities of vegetables, protein, and fiber, one is on their own. One must search the Hans to compose a healthy yet delicious meal for themselves. Will cereal and grilled cheese work together? Do I really want to try the vegan specialties? Is salad or spinach healthier? Do I trust the Sweet and Sour Pork? Do I want cake or will it hurt my stomach after having the clam chowder? These are some ridiculous, yet common questions one might ask themselves. If one is not used to cafeteria style dining, they could get lost in the complexities, and feel as if though they should try everything. It is a learning experience. After several weeks you know what stations to stay away from, you know which workers are grumpy and which are nice, and you know which desserts are good. This makes us smarter as consumers, young adults, and independent students. By way of trial and error we discover our likes and dislikes, the process, and whether or not we really want a dining plan next year.

This brings me to my second point. After going to the Handschumacher for a year, one must decide whether they want to continue their meal plan, use Flex Funds, or simply avoid the Drexel Dining Services, and purchase and make their own food, with quality products. If one is a vegetarian or vegan, the first year of the Hans may have made it clear that it was uneconomical to have a Gold Plan, and smarter to make their own food in the future years of college life. Personally for the amount of time I have between classes and the time I'm on campus it is smarter to have dining hall dollars where I can spend them where I want along with cash for Wawa, trucks and Quiznos, rather than be glued to a meal plan, in which I must eat at the Hans 9, 15, or 20 times a week to get my money's worth. 

It's by experience, diet, and cost that going to the Hans for a year makes a student of Drexel smarter in their future dining endeavours. One might love the food and decide that an unlimited dining plan is the smartest choice, while one might decide they can cook and they want to utilize their skills. It's this experience that keeps us fed, but matures us and continues to create our independence.