As another school year begins, we see the huge changes to campus. There’s the enormous pit where the Plaza used to be and the Lory Student Center is stripped down to its steel skeleton. The food court is closed for the year, and almost all the restaurants have been replaced by the food trucks next to Chemistry. There are only three restaurants that were in the original food court that have simply been moved to other parts of campus instead of being replaced: Ramskeller, Spoons and Subway.
It should be obvious why Ramskeller remains; we’d revolt and riot if the one bar on-campus was closed.
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What I find puzzling is why we have to keep Spoons and Subway on campus. One would think that if any restaurants would stay, Carl’s Jr. and Panda Express would be more likely than Spoons and Subway.
Why do we prefer salads, sandwiches and soups over burgers, fries and mushu pork? Why do we choose to eat our vegetables? Why do we prefer salads over deep-fried potatoes?
In a time of skyrocketing obesity rates, Colorado is the healthiest state in the union, with 20 percent of the population being overweight or obese. Looking at CSU and Fort Collins, one can see why. Spots like Larkburger and Garbanzo’s do excellent business selling vegetarian and Mediterranean cuisine, people go everywhere on their bicycles and the Rec Center is filled every day with students reading textbooks on stationary bikes and treadmills. It stands to reason that when surrounded by people making healthy choices, some of it will rub off on the rest of us.
Many of us can talk to our parents and honestly answer that yes, we eat all our fruits and vegetables, and yes, we exercise. We’re a bit more cagey when asked about doing our homework, or sampling the products of local microbreweries like Fat Tire, or if we’re taking advantage of Amendment 64.
Out of all the renovations to campus, none have been more useful than or as dear to us as the renovated Rec Center. The 2010-2011 renovation added a climbing wall and a swimming pool, and the building offers classes from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Lockers are rented out within the first four days of the new school year, and many of us have to wait in line for an empty machine in the weight room. Every day, we see guys in muscle shirts and shorts and girls in tank tops and sweatpants, their bodies slick with sweat and buds firmly in their ears.
In class, I would guess that 98 percent of us keep a filled water bottle in a special compartment at the side of our backpacks, and many of us drink from our bottles and refill them at the fountains without even thinking about it.
We have freedom of choice for the first time in our lives, and as far as food and exercise are concerned, we’re making smart, responsible decisions. We may drink until we pass out, we may smoke weed, but by God, we exercise and eat our lettuce.
Allison Chase is a junior creative writing major. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.