The Great Hall of Brooks College is more than just a dining hall, it is a community. As a Baylor alumnus, it saddens me to hear of its imminent closing. Gone will be chicken nugget Thursdays, the best breakfast on campus, and the peaceful atmosphere that students and faculty from all disciples, residence halls, and life stages love. I am grateful to have had made so many great memories in the Great Hall and hope that future students will still have that opportunity.

Allow me to give a few examples of some memories there. One of the most pleasant was Chicken Nugget Thursday, a weekly tradition that was beloved not just by me, but the hundreds of students who would participate in it. No other dining hall provided chicken nuggets, leading to an exodus from other popular dining halls such as Memorial and Penland on Thursdays. An obvious objection to the importance of such a tradition is that other dining halls can provide chicken nuggets too. But no other dining hall is built in the way the Great Hall is. The long wooden tables and benches facilitate conversation in ways that are simply not feasible in other spaces. Thursday was a day I could depend on a good meal with friends. The smaller size of the Great Hall enabled for deeper conversations not silenced by the deafening roar of hundreds of students all talking about courses or the latest Baylor Football win in a place like Penland. The space of the Great Hall is unparalleled in any other community on campus. The importance of the Great Hall goes beyond preserving the specific space, however. 

One of my fondest memories of the Great Hall wasn’t just the food and space, but the staff. My sophomore year, Michael the dishwasher was a good friend. We had common interest in Star Trek and talked almost every day. I never met a dishwasher at any other dining hall, they were isolated in such a way that I imagine no student could interact with them. The Great Hall doesn’t have that issue. Ms. Portia at the swipe in station was another one of my favorites. Her warm smile was something I looked forward to more than the food itself at times. A difficulty given how great the food was. It’s no wonder I gained some weight once I moved into Brooks College as a Sophomore. Kevin the manager was another friend. We talked about his kids, his vacations, and his work. I certainly ate at other dining halls, but I never got to know the staff in the same way. As I mentioned earlier, the dishwashers are isolated. It’s hard to get to know the staff member swiping you in when there’s a line of fifty students behind you at places like Memorial or Penland. And general managers have no time to talk at other dining halls either given their size. These problems will only deepen if the number of dining halls is reduced further.

Let's take action and remind the University why it is more important to preserve the space that has meant so much to each of us than to save a little money. Share your favorite memory of eating at the Great Hall and show the administration how big of a mistake they're making.