Which building has the best vending machines?
People, I don’t know about you, but I am a sucker for vending machines—I need that quick snack in the evenings when I’m powering through that last assignment, and the nearest vending machine can make or break the wee hours of the morning. But not all vending machines are created equal; some have better snacks, some are better looking, and some work more often than others. So, in this article, I will be ranking my favorite vending machines across campus based on the three categories above.
First up, the least favorite of all my favorites are the ones in the MacVittie College Union. There are a lot of vending machines there, and some of them have really good snacks, especially the ones in the mailroom. While some of them look like they are from the stone ages, there are a few who are looking pretty spiffy, such as the ones located in CUPS outside of Starbucks; however, they are always breaking down, and finding one that will take what few retail dollars you have left can be difficult. If I remember correctly, the one in the mailroom wasn’t working for all of last semester and nothing was done about it—the same situation applies to the vending machine on the third floor. That really only leaves the vending machines by Starbucks. The frozen one is really good, and is my source of emergency Hot Pockets, and the drinks one is fair as well. However, the other two vending machines provide extremely overpriced mini-dinner things that suck; I’ve had them several times and I want my eight dollars back.
Next up is the dorms. Now, it’s hard to compare all dorm vending machines, as they can be drastically different from one another. I’ve heard that Seneca and Nassau have ramen in them, and Steuben has instant mac and cheese, while Monroe has less than impressive snacks; however, grouping them all together, dorm vending machines are not bad. They tend to have pretty decent snacks, some even better than decent, though they are not aesthetically pleasing and many of them break and won’t be repaired for weeks. Also, I found beef jerky that was moldy in my dorm vending machine. What beef jerky gets moldy? I have questions.
Moving on, Bailey takes the number two spot. The snacks in the Bailey vending machines are top tier. Bailey has the highest concentration of appealing vending machines on campus, as they are not the modern ones that look like they came out of Star Trek; however, students should note that they are frequently broken. Just the other day I went to the vending machine for a pick-me-up and it wouldn’t accept my ID card. Excuse me, good sir! For all the money I spend on retail dollars the vending machines should take my ID card. Also, last semester, the vending machine in downstairs Bailey was broken for so long, people started writing notes on it complaining. So, for that, Bailey only gets spot number two.
And finally, for the best vending machines on campus, the Integrated Science Center (ISC) takes the cake. First of all, killer snacks—more variety than anywhere else on campus. While we do have an oldie next to a goodie, there is also the vending machine that looks like it came out of Time Square. Its digital screen is bright, colorful, and is way more expensive than this school can afford. It is genuinely gorgeous; it brings hope for a better tomorrow. The cherry on top is that it is hardly ever broken. You can always rely on the ISC vending machines to be in tip-top shape for the tour groups.
Anyway, those are my thoughts on the various vending machines across campus. If you disagree, feel free to write a response—I’d be happy to settle this over the written word.
Thumbnail Photo via Knight’s Life Editor Ella Pearcy
