Column: Overpriced and underwhelming

Have you ever been on campus and really craving a piece of pizza only to be charged nearly $8?

The Cafe in the Student Activities Center (SAC) is important to the student body. It offers a variety of food and dessert options. The best part? All you can eat.

But what about when you just don’t have the time to sit down and eat? Get it to go, right?

The price to eat in the SAC Cafe is $7.79. That’s a good price for an all you can eat buffet, but not as great for a single container that can’t fit very much food. Not to mention, if you don’t like your food to touch, like many people, you have even fewer options—there are only three sections per container.

Many students do not realize how much they are being charged for a to-go plate due to a declining balance. Because of this, the price is never given to them. They simply scan their ID card and get their food. However, commuters need to eat too, and it isn’t as simple as scanning an ID and getting food on a meal plan. We have to pay out of pocket.

Of course, there are a few other options. The Station serves sandwiches, but those are often overpriced. We have vending machines, but those are not a balanced meal.

The SAC Cafe offers a range of healthy foods for students to eat and the ability to have a fully balanced plate.

However, when you get the food to go why should you pay the same amount as though you were sitting down with unlimited access to the buffet? Most restaurants that offer to-go buffet plates have a scale that they use to weigh your dinner. Paying by the pound makes much more sense especially when dealing with broke college students.

A scale to weigh a SAC cafe plate would be a great addition to our school. I should not pay the same price for a single grilled cheese sandwich where another student can get four plates full of food for the same price all because they had time to sit down and eat.

In the meantime, commuters, try and bring your lunch. It’s way cheaper than eating at the school.

But don’t forget a fork because they will charge you for that too.