Outward appreciation of the dining hall is uncommon. I am a fourth year, and since my first week on campus, I have heard all kinds of hate for the dining hall, particularly the food. Through YikYak, overheard conversations and even facial expressions, the displeasure is clear.
I understand some of this discontent — the meal plan is expensive, and making it mandatory has added to underlying frustrations, compounded by the issues the administration has created with student employees surrounding treatment at work and fair wages. That being said, the dining hall has kept me healthy, fed and safe through hundreds of meals in my time here. It has become one of my favorite places on campus.
About halfway through my college career, I began to express my appreciation to the people who make the dining hall the dining hall. Over time, my thank-yous turned into longer conversations, and the love that each dining hall employee puts into the silverware they wipe, the greetings they share and the food they prepare became quickly evident to me.
While dining hall employees care about us, I have found that we as a student body often do not return the favor. Several Honor G Grill employees expressed to me that they estimate less than half of the Grinnellians they encounter during their 10-hour work shifts say “Thank you” or even anything at all. What is said, however, speaks volumes.
“This looks like shit.” “That’s it?” “I should have cooked at home.”
These are but a small sample of the comments dining hall employees have heard students say directly in front of them. Hours of intensive work preparing, cooking and plating food is snapped up by a pair of tongs and tarnished within a few seconds.
How would this make you feel? To what extent are these complaints productive? How can we be part of a socially conscious, progressive school if we fail to even respect our own community members?
The dining hall is not perfect. Like everyone else, I have complained about the food and the long lines. However, I have learned over four years that the dining hall is made possible, and great, through the efforts of real people — people who experience emotions and perceive the social interactions unfolding in front of them like anyone else, people who work hard to help make our experience as students at Grinnell better.
Let us remember and reward this effort with, at the very least, a smile and a thank-you. As I know firsthand, those smiles and thank-yous go a long way.
For those with legitimate feedback for the dining hall, use the cards and read the whiteboard by the exit!
Chris Zug '93 • Apr 1, 2025 at 9:13 am
Thank you, Peter, for sharing a very thoughtful, well-written piece.
I’m sure some are wondering whether you have some ulterior motive or are trying to curry favor with someone, but I hope many more simply follow your lead and just say, “Thanks.” A few of those will undoubtedly take the sting off the other remarks that are all too often overheard. Yes, folks, the line server has ears and feelings, too.
For what it’s worth, the current D-Hall is light years ahead of its predecessors, Cowles and Quad. It’s bathed in light and airy, offers varied seating options, but most importantly, it offers an array of food choices. “Back in the day,” there was a single serving line — talk about long lines — offering three options, typically a chicken dish, a beef/pork selection, and a vegetarian option. Many of those were either casseroles or smothered in some sort of sauce. At the end of the line was an uninspired salad bar and the ever-popular cereal station.
Preparing food in bulk isn’t easy. I can’t remember the last time I left a large dinner, e.g., wedding reception or business conference, and thought, “Wow, that was a great meal!” It just doesn’t happen very often. What’s more is that the individual you are encountering at the serving stations likely bears little responsibility for the selection you’re insulting. They do think of themselves as part of a team, however, so your negative comments hurt. Praise publicly, but criticize privately.
It’s not hard to look them in the eye and offer a sincere thank you. I’m not sure D-Hall management would like it, but a quick thank you card or note on a napkin left on your tray might make the day of the individual doing dishes in the back.
Dining services isn’t perfect, but at its core are a lot of people who care and are trying to do their best. Let them know you appreciate their efforts.