I have never been bothered by Eagle Commons closing at 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

I always got there before then and laughed at the kids who stood at the locked doors looking in on the last meal of the day.

I was never one of those kids until this past weekend when my boyfriend and I got to the outside door of the dining hall at exactly  6:29 p.m. (AT&T time), and an employee was locking the inside door.  Sneakily, I walked through the exit door and the woman said, “We’re closed.”

Closed at 6:30 p.m.  on a Saturday? And of course, the not-so-convenient Gemmell Food Court isn’t open on weekends.  We only pay about a grand for our meal plans and then an extra $150 or more for flex.The least this school could do for us is offer something that is open 24 hours (or at least until midnight).

I know that it couldn’t possibly be Chartwells’ idea to close at 7 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 p.m. on weekends. York College of Pennsylvania and Edinboro University offer dining as late as 10 p.m. every night.

I realize most of the workers are older and have to get home to their families. However, the university has students dying to have some form of employment.
I understand Eagle Commons closes between meals to set up for the next meal, but there are times when more than 80 percent of those on campus have classes.  There would be plenty of time to switch meals even while a couple students were grabbing a plate of the last big entrée.

If there would be any way that Clarion could cater to its students’ needs, it would be greatly appreciated.  So if that money for our meal plans isn’t going toward the meals we miss because Eagle Commons closes its doors in our faces – where is it going?

Are we really paying tuition so that we can go to Wendy’s or Subway and spend our own cash? We’re college students, people… we’re not entirely rich here.  I’m not saying Eagle Commons is the only inconvenience in Clarion.  Nothing in Clarion’s open for 24 hours that is in close walking distance from residents halls on campus.

As blunt as this may seem, Clarion University runs on its own time – not its students.  Something should at least be open on campus until midnight.

I personally will work for Eagle Commons from 7 p.m. to midnight for 3 days a week and the weekends – hold me to that.  I hope in saying all of this, I don’t get my meal plan revoked but just at least a little consideration (extra flex wouldn’t be that bad either).

Really though, Clarion, it’s 2010 – it’s time to run on your students’ schedules.

-The writer is a sophomore communications major at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.