Abbot Pennings answers a question about the history of food served on campus, archived from the SNC website

Blumreich, Eric

English

St. Norbert College

St. Norbert College Digital Commons @ St. Norbert College Ask the Abbot Alumni Relations 10-2020 St. Norbert College is well known these days for its great dining options. But I've heard stories from our alumni about how that wasn't always the case. Is it true that students once protested the cafeteria food? Eric Blumreich Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/asktheabbot Alumni Ask the Abbot October 2020October 2020Question:Dear Abbot Pennings:St. Norbert College is well known these days for its greatdining options. But I've heard stories from our alumni abouthow that wasn't always the case. Is it true that students onceprotested the cafeteria food?Eric Blumreich (College Advancement)Answer:Dearest Eric,Ah, a query that truly whets the appetite! As is the case formany, I’m quite certain, my senses are delighted in Ruth’sMarketplace, as I take in the wonderful fare that DiningServices has laid out before us. And who doesn’t enjoy anevening dining in Phil’s and Dale’s? Certainly, I cannot forgetthe enchanting aromas from Ed’s that drift my way. Yes, Eric, you’re quite right: The dining options offered to ourcommunity today are simply delightful. Alas, some of ouralumni were not quite as fortunate as they sat down to breakbread in their days on campus. Truth be told, at one point in the mid-1950s, students at ourdear college were so appalled by the offerings, they stagedwhat has since been referred to as a “food riot.” According tomy dear friend, John Bayer ’57, the food at the time wasterrible. John recalls that many students would eat “just aboutanything” without complaint – but he and his friend DickAs the founder of St.Norbert College, andhaving a prime seat in thecenter of campusthroughout the years, I,Abbot Bernard Pennings,hold the answers to manyof your burning questionsabout the college.Submit Your QuestionAsk the AbbotAlumniEvents & ReunionsBehind the ArchBenefits and ServicesGet InvolvedGive to SNCAlumni AwardsKnight LightsAlumni-OwnedBusinesses NetworkAlumni BoardStudent AlumniAmbassadorsStaffALUMNI  PARENTS  LOCAL COMMUNITY  STUDENTS  FACULTY & STAFF  A-Z INDEXAcademics  Admission  Campus Life  Living Norbertine  Athletics  About  Mitchell ’57 weren’t so easily persuaded. John and Dickorganized the food riot, during which students passed up thecollege-provided food and instead consumed simply peanut-butter sandwiches and a glass of milk for breakfasts, lunchesand dinners – all the while shouting the tagline for a dog foodbrand popular at the time. (“Eat Rival dog food! Arf, arf, arf!”)The food riot lasted two days.I do recall the disruption causing some disgruntled feelings forcollege administrators. As for our hard-pressed kitchen staff,I'm afraid the incident was distressing for them, too. But, as forhis part in the food riot, my dear John was pleased. He sharedwith us recently: “After two days ... we got a whole new crewcoming in to cook for us. It worked out very well.” Dare I say, things have only continued to improve since then!In fact, I feel compelled to share with you, my dear Eric, St.Norbert College recently was ranked No. 4 for best collegefood in the nation. And it’s not just the delicious cuisine thatmakes dining at our college such a wonderful experience:Many of our dear students list dining services staff as thosewhose remarkable hospitality makes them feel truly at homeon our campus. Here at St. Norbert, our dining services staffnot only nourish our bodies, but our souls.Goodness, I’m afraid I must take my leave. Admittedly, all thistalk about our campus foodstuffs has me aching for somesustenance (and I’m starting to smell something deliciousbrewing over at Ed’s). Responses to “Ask the Abbot” questions are penned by St.Norbert College staff in the name of Abbot Bernard Pennings,who founded St. Norbert College in 1898. St. Norbert College100 Grant Street De Pere, WI 54115 920-337-3181 Map & Directions Contact UsCareersLibraryNewsEventsBox OfficeUndergraduateGraduateSchneider School ofBusiness & Economics© 2021 St. Norbert College  |   Nondiscrimination Policy  |   Land Acknowledgement  |   Privacy Statement  |  Site Accessibility  |  Title IX

St. Norbert College is well known these days for its great dining options. But I\u27ve heard stories from our alumni about how that wasn\u27t always the case. Is it true that students once protested the cafeteria food?

https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1151&amp;context=asktheabbot

St. Norbert College is well known these days for its great dining options. But I\u27ve heard stories from our alumni about how that wasn\u27t always the case. Is it true that students once protested the cafeteria food?

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