Story and Photo by Arlette Valdivia, Staff Writer
The Cypress College Food pass has given students $12 to purchase drinks, meals, and snacks from the Charger Cafe. This pass has been crucial for many students, including myself. College life often consists of long days, and access to a proper meal is essential for maintaining energy and focus for a successful academic day.
As a second-year student at Cypress College, I’ve encountered some problems with the Charger Cafe, such as long wait times. Though this was an inconvenience I could still purchase a complete meal that included an entree, a drink, and a bag of chips with the food pass. This support has been especially beneficial to me as I am both a full-time student and a student worker.
However most recently at the start of the spring semester, the Charger Cafe raised prices on most items, significantly limiting student options. The $12 food pass is no longer enough to cover a full meal with a drink or snack, often leaving students to pay out of pocket.
Kimberly Palencia, an Automotive Technology major, stated that the price increase left it harder to decide what she wanted to get from the Cafe, “Before I was able to get both chicken tenders and an energy drink. Now I have to decide which one I want more.”
Similar to my own experience, Palencia found herself having to pay 50 cents out of pocket for purchasing an entree, drink, and snack because the food pass was not enough to cover the items after the price increase.
I have long days on campus, typically starting in the early morning and ending anywhere between 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. so without a full meal I find myself half-full and struggling to stay energized.
While there are off-campus dining options, my tight schedule–allowing only about 30 minutes between work and class–and my lack of transportation make going off campus for a meal impossible.
Many other students face similar challenges due to the increase in prices at the Charger Cafe, especially the students who rely on the pass to fulfill at least one of their meals a day.
