Residence hall life is under attack.
Only last weekend, the poor students at Harvard University had their weekday hot breakfast options taken away. But before that, right here at the University, a far worse travesty occurred in residence hall dining.
The famous — perhaps even infamous — Cheesy Griller served at Common Grounds cafe
in Hamilton Complex suffered a demeaning change in nomenclature this year. In case you missed the gasp-worthy news, the Cheesy Griller is now known as the “grilled cheese.”
Simply put, the Cheesy Griller is no grilled cheese. It is far worse an assault on students’ health that resembles nothing you have ever seen on the side of tomato soup. For former University Housing residents, it captures the imagination and sparks nostalgia as only the Cheesy Griller can. (We’ll concede the single, possible exception of the soft-serve wonder that is the Whammy, which is now served at Carson Dining during select “Late Night” hours without the charming ambiance of Hammy’s — another victim of rearrangement in on-campus dining.)
Tom Driscoll, director of food services, says the griller’s snore-worthy rebranding as the grilled cheese was “an unfortunate mistake.” But how could an error of such magnitude be overlooked by those who must understand the weight the Cheesy Griller brand carries? There’s something sinister going on here.
One can only hope Food Services comes through with its claim that the name will change back the next time the menu is printed. But we cannot afford to wait long.
Why should freshmen — and the upperclassmen they feed — be forced to suffer because a devastating, if not intentional, mistake? Ultimately, students are paying for the critical oversight, which poses a serious threat to the Cheesy Griller’s renown and, in effect, the residence hall experience — an experience that hinges upon the little things.
Thank goodness there are still some who are fighting the good fight. Common Grounds employee Paoa Wandke told the Emerald that many of the cafe’s veteran workers are leading the counter-movement and encouraging students to keep the Cheesy Griller legend alive.
If student government must intervene to correct this heinous error in judgement, so be it. ASUO Sen. Demic Tipitino has already been so bold as to speak out against the grilled cheese, but the government body has taken no action.
As long as it’s alive in our hearts, the Cheesy Griller can never die.
So next time you’re at Common Grounds and craving something rubbery, greasy and barely esculent, order a Cheesy Griller. The grilled cheese can go to you-know-where.
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