Tavalon Bubble Tea

Tavalon tea is offered in the Underground Cafe.

Finally, bubble tea, along with Tavalon Tea, has come to Adelphi's Underground Cafe!  Growing up with Chinese parents, I am a huge fan of bubble tea.  During the warm weather, bubble tea is a popular drink/snack for the Asian community in NYC.  It was quite exciting to see a new cultural food come on campus. 

Bubbles, boba, and tapioca balls are synonymous.  They can be added to any drink with an extra cost of 50 cents.  It is available in the Underground Cafe.

“It’s good,” says Kate McLeod, ’15.  “We got green tea with boba.”

My black tea with tapioca balls.

“It’s my first time trying it,” says Meghan Starkes, ’15.  “I wasn’t sure what they were for.  Still not sure what they are for.”

I tried the bubble black tea, but the tapioca balls are not as good as they can be.  I am willing to try it once more, though!

The Tavalon tea menu.

Possible New Food at Adelphi

A "hot pocket"-like wrap.

Earlier today, Lackmann Culinary Services, Adelphi’s food provider, gave free samples of “Pizzan.”  They offered students a choice of either peperoni or buffalo chicken meat.  

“I tried the buffalo chicken and I liked it a lot,” says Nina Stoia, ’16. “My friend got the peperoni and it wasn’t so good… I think I would pay $5.50 for one… I paid $12.00 for a salad.”

“It tasted good, but it tasted like a hot pocket,” says Jacqueline Williams, ’14.

Chef Fletcher Johnson and a Lackmann District Manager

“I wouldn’t pay $5.50 for it because it tastes like rubber chicken,” says Carl Williams ’15.

I tried the peperoni “Pizzan” and I found it to be very unhealthy and oily.  I don’t think it would be a good idea for students to be eating a “Hot Pocket”-like meal lunch or dinner on a daily basis.

Chemistry Lab Gone Wrong

The science building and its proximity was blocked off.

At approximately 1:30pm today, the entire Adelphi community was notified by Adelphi Alert, "the Garden City Fire Department investigating a possible chemical spill in science building. Stay away from area."  Students were all aroused and curious as to what happened.  Two students, whose names will not be identified for privacy purposes, admitted to spilled Bromine, a chemical, during their Physical Chemistry lab experiment.

"It was weird and inconvenient to be disrupted during class,” says Jaclyn Mancini, ’16.  “I didn't actually worry about my safety."             

The Garden City Fire Department came to investigate
the chemical spill in the science building

After an hour of waiting, students, faculty, and
administrators were allowed back into the science building.

While Adelphi Public Safety and the Garden City Fire Marshal investigated and closed off the science building, some students, faculty, and administrators waited outside to enjoy the nice weather.  Some students had no time to waste, so they went into the library to continue their work.     

By 2:30pm, the "Nassau County Fire Marshall determined all conditions are normal in Science Building" and the Adelphi community was allowed back into the science building and its proximity.

NEW Korean Food at Adelphi!

Koso Fresh ad in the UC Lobby

Did you hear? Koso Fresh has come to Adelphi.  Students seem to love the Korean spices and concept, but do they love it enough to keep it in the University Center Cafe permanently?  Some students think that that Koso Fresh rice bowls are delicious, but $8.99 is really expensive for one meal.  Students who are on meal plans have to use two meal swipes to purchase a meal worth $8.99.  Some students miss their waffles, which has been replaced by Koso fresh for this week.  Others are just glad that Kaso Fresh has not taken away their burritos.

Koso Fresh menu

"I thought it was going to replace the burrito station," says Elisa Hanson.  It's good that it's not."

Kaso Fresh's most popular item is its rice bowl, which consists of brown and white rice mixed together.  One can add lettuce, relish, carrots, chic peas, bean sprouts, chicken, pork, tofu, sesame sauce, mild sauce, and hot sauce.

Krissa Dumalo, '16 and Caitlyn Ty, '16 were one of the first students to try Kaso Fresh.  "It was better than I thought it would be," says Caitlyn. "It's like Chipotle, but Korean style. It's good, but when I saw the price..."

Koso Fresh rice bowl with spicey pork

Adelphi, a Safe Zone/LGBTQ-friendly Campus

Photo credit: Adelphi University

It's that time of the year again: housing deposits and applications are due.  But this time, something big's changed: gender inclusive housing.

If you registered to reside on the Garden City campus next fall, you were asked if you'd be "interested in gender inclusive housing."

Most students think of gender inclusive housing as a way for heterosexual couples to live with each other.  However, that was not the intention.  The purpose for this program, currently being proposed, is for students to recognize that Adelphi is moving forward and is LGBTQ friendly.  Gender inclusive housing allows for students, regardless of gender identity and sexual preference, to reside comfortably at Adelphi.

Photo credit: Adelphi University

Many students who have not been Safe Zone trained or are not knowledgeable about their LGBTQ community seem to be against gender inclusive housing and/or supportive of gender inclusive housing for non-LGBTQ related reasons.

"Bad idea," says Junior Leyba, '14. "Nobody will ever get any work done."

"They should really let guys live with girls," says Claudio Ventura, '16.

"Just because I have a girlfriend doesn't mean I'm going to live with her," says Miguel Molina.  "It's just that a guy should be comfortable living with a guy."

"That's nuts...," says Lauren Tesoriero, '14. "I think it can cause a lot of housing issues if two straight people, like a couple, dorm together and then break up, or fight and stuff."

But aren't we adults by now?  Shouldn't we have the right to decide whether or not we want to live with our partners?

One student gave me a different perspective: learning to connect with the opposite sex.  "I support it," says Sam Mirkov, '14.  "It's a great way to connect, even if some people feel it's inappropriate.  Cause think of all the people who have trouble connecting with the opposite sex. [In terms of homosexuals,] it depends on the person.  If he is looking for a partner, he might get attached [in gender exclusive housing].  To be honest, I'd rather live with the opposite sex."

At yesterday's Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, a bill was passed, stating that SGA is in support of gender inclusive housing.  Senators who participated in the discussion were overwhelmingly supportive of the proposal.

Although gender inclusive housing may not be available by fall 2013, the fact that it is being considered is a huge step towards a more socially just community.  Over 129 colleges/universities in the US already provide gender inclusive housing, including Stony Brook University, Albany University, Cornell University, and University of Oregon.

Photo credit: University of Oregon