Underground's Secret Hours

The Underground Cafe is often found
closed on its usual Saturday hours.

The Underground Cafe on the basement of the Adelphi University Center is known for its Starbucks coffee, warm and calm atmosphere, friendly service, jazz music, and pastries.  However, it is also known for its slow and long lines, expensive drinks, low-quality Starbucks drinks, and most annoyingly, inconsistent hours.

"Nice atmosphere, too expensive when it comes to the food, but that's a place that I would have my meetings," says Josephine Chuah '16.  "It's not open on Saturday... Well, I don't go there on Saturdays anyway. But I do like the ladies there; they are very nice and friendly.  But I do wish that the compound was bigger because a lot of people do have lunch there."

According to the Adelphi University Student Planners (funded by the Student Government Association) and the Adelphi website, the Underground Cafe is supposed to be open on Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm.  However, as a resident, I know that this is not true.  Also, the Underground Cafe used to be open on Sundays from 10:00am-2:00pm, but now it is closed.

"It really bothers me that they are not open on the weekends," says Megan O'Reilly, '16.

The amount of seating is limited in the Underground Cafe.

Has "Health Services" Serviced You Well?

Adelphi University Health Services Center at Waldo Hall

As a resident, I use Adelphi's Health Services at least twice a semester.  I've been seen by EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), nurses, and NPs (Nurse Practitioners).  The thing that most frustrates students and myself is that we do not know what each position can and cannot do... we simply want to go to "the nurse" and expect the problem to be fixed by the time we leave.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Although the Health Services Center is open 24/7 (except on special occasions), their services are limited and sometimes unsatisfactory.  On weekdays, from 8:00am to 4:00pm, a nurse is available and an NP is available with an appointment.  On weekdays, from 4:00pm-8:00am and weekends, an EMT is available.  I've been to Health Services for a variety of reasons and I find that  an NP should be available 24/7 because nurses and EMTs are not certified to do certain things, such as prescribe medicine or conduct a blood test.

Ms. Hawley (EMT) showed me how
to wrap my injured foot.

However, this is not to say that nurses and EMTs are useless.  In fact, when my foot was injured the other day, an EMT, Lauren Hawley, was able to take my blood pressure to make sure that I was not internally bleeding.  Ms. Hawley also provided me with three packs of ice and elastic bandage wraps, which she taught me how to use.  She even wrote a note to excuse me from work.  Other students also gave positive feedback:

"Health Services helped me a lot," said Charles Collura, '14.  "I had strep.  They actually gave me an examination; they actually prescribed medication for me. They're better than I thought it would be.  I think the problem is that most people assume that the health center is like the school nurse, who can give you a tissue and a band-aid... but it's actually a legitimate doctor. They actually know stuff."

Overall, the Adelphi Health Services staff does the best that they, but the lack of funding limits their services.

Post Dining Hall: Post Opening Year

Nikos Cafe, a Greek cuisine before Post Dining Hall existed

Photo credit: Adelphi University

Yep, those days of "Nikos Cafe," "Sbarro," and "The Grill" are long gone at Adelphi; but so are the grand-opening days of "All-You-Care-to-Eat" at Post Dining Hall.  According to the Adelphi website, "89% of Adelphi students surveyed stated that they would be interested in an All-You-Care-to-Eat dining option on campus."  However, many students would agree that food at the Post Dining Hall still sub-par.

Post Dining Hall Grand Opening
Photo credit: Adelphi University

If you take a look at Adelphi's Lackmann Facebook page, the cover photo glamorizes what looks to me like a wedge of lettuce with some peppers, onions, and ranch on top.  Seriously? Who looks forward to eating that?  

                                                                                                                                                                 

Lackmann had just provided students with new dining options at Post Hall in late January, so I decided to ask students if they've seen any improvements. 

Photo credit: Adelphi University

"I'd say that they've improved, but very little," says Natnael Petros, '15.  "They need more improvements, but they have improved a little bit compared to last year."

"I think this place has a trajectory that's kind of weird," says Christopher Ladka, '14. "I think this place is very good at the beginning of the semester, and then gets a lot worse. It has periods where it's good and it has periods where it's bad, and overall, it stayed the same."

"I just think it's bad," says Steven Joseph, '16.

"It's improved slightly in the food quality, but it also got more expensive and it still needs a lot of improve," says Lauren Tesoriero.  "[My dinner] was decent, but the first plate I picked up was still dirty and some of the food wasn't as tasty as it looked."

On February 26th, Michael Franzese, the District Manager of Lackmann Culinary Services, and Linda Pianelli, the Marketing Manager, met with the Student Government Association (SGA) to answer the senators' concerns about food at Adelphi.  As Vice President of Class of 2014, I was there for the entire meeting, and although the meeting went well and many solutions seemed to be agreed on both ends, there is still a lack of improvement and results.

Vending Machine in the Library?

Photo credit: Michael Angel

Feeling hungry or tired? Need an instant rush of energy? Well, if you’re in the library, you’re out of luck, because the closest bite to eat is located in another building.

Vending machines exist in almost every other building at Adelphi.

Students at Adelphi have been wondering if there are vending machines in the library and when they realized that there aren’t, confusion, and frustration seem to be the popular reaction.

Library entrance, a possible vending machine location.

Library lobby, another possible vending machine location.

“I’m in the library and I’m studying and I have to go all the way to the Science Building or the PAC for a snack," said Sheba Varghese, ‘14.  "How could the library, out of all places, especially where people would probably need it the most, not have a vending machine? I really don’t understand this and I’ve talkd to many people about it and they have the same concern.”

“I think having to go to the UC to get food is the most annoying thing in the world," said Christine Matthew, ‘13.  "There should really be some vending machines here, especially when it gets late and you’re studying.  The UC and all the other buildings are closed.” 

“I don’t have a problem with it," said Michael Ganci, Library Evening Supervisor.  "My only concern is the books and the computers; spillage and that sort of thing cause we've had that problem before. When we get moldy or wet books back, we have to charge the students. So I’m not totally in favor but I’m not against it either. But if there were vending machines in the library, I’d be the first to use it.”

Library 2nd floor, Quan's suggested location for a vending machine.

“Honestly, I’ve never seen a vending machine in the library," said Quan Tran, Front Desk Lab Consultant.  "Do they even have one yet? I think it would be cool. Maybe one by the bathroom? Because if no one on shift with me, then I can’t get a bottle of soda.”


Although vending machines seem to be a great idea, the issue of having vending machines has been brought to the Student Government Association (SGA) and to Charles W. Simpson, the library Dean. Simpson said that they are in the process of hiring a new library dean, so issues such as this one will have to be held off.  On the other hand, Adelphi is not a big campus, the UC is not too far of a walk, and the library is not a cafeteria.