Dear Editor:
In her recent installment of "SOS," Charlotte Steinway declared Dewick the winner of the age-old dining hall debate. But Steinway left out several key points that skewed the argument, which we would like to clarify below.
1. Sweets: There is rarely a day that goes by when one walks by the dessert section of Dewick and isn't disappointed by the sight of bare shelves or a lonely pathetic plate of vegan bars signaling that your sugar craving will not be satisfied. Carmichael, on the other hand, consistently has delicious cookies or cake slices at the wait, and offers fondue night and the pudding bar as a special treat.
2. Machinery: One word-FRO-YO. The Out-of-Order sign is perpetually displayed on the Dewick Columbo machine ... they might as well just remove it altogether. However, the friendly purr of Carmichael's frozen yogurt machine is like music to diners' ears, and the flavor selection is superb.
3. Salad Bar: Maybe Steinway loves "quarter-inch slices of fresh tomato," but the rest of the student body probably would prefer all-day kiwi, Craisins, sunflower seeds, cherry tomatoes, red peppers and grilled chicken strips to top off the perfect salad ... all of which Carmichael provides daily.
4. Temperature: Despite the unseasonably warm weather we've been having this month, winter coats are still in style at Dewick. Though the comment board is flooded with student pleas to turn up the heat, the frigid air makes eating a meal like having a picnic in Alaska. You can defrost at Carmichael, which greets visitors with a cozy, warm atmosphere.
5. Organization: Your mom always told you to eat everything on your plate. That was easy when everything was a familiar dish, but now it's harder to know what will taste good. Carmichael makes it easy to sample what you want by conveniently placing silverware up front with the plates and trays. Think that dish looks skeptical? Simply take a little, try it with your fork and decide. No more waste!
6. Community pride: It was in 1920 that Marshmallow Fluff hit stores, created by Archibald Query, a resident of Somerville, Mass. Carmichael prominently displays its local pride by putting out the Fluff in a prime location next to the peanut butter. Dewick, apparently ashamed of its origins, doesn't even offer Fluff unless personally requested. Town-gown relations are always a bit rocky at Tufts, but Carmichael is doing its part to foster a love of this community and its unique history.
Clearly, Steinway's pro-Dewick propaganda failed to objectively compare the dining halls. If you look at all the arguments, you just might find that a trip to Carmichael is worth the walk uphill.
Sincerely,Noelle Nacov (LA '10)
