Dear Editor,

Many students at Syracuse University have long class schedules and it can become stressful trying to designate time for them to fit in a healthy breakfast or lunch. The cafes provided on campus in different schools and locations are a good way of grabbing a quick snack or meal, but are often very pricy, considering it is the same food put out in dining halls, which are all on the outskirts of campus. Recent studies have demonstrated that nutrition affects students’ thinking skills, behavior and health, all factors that impact academic performance. Poor nutrition can leave students susceptible to illness or lead to headaches and stomachaches, resulting in school absences. Access to nutrition that incorporates protein, carbohydrates and glucose has been shown to improve students’ cognition, concentration and energy levels. A rice bowl or salad from the cafes on campus are priced around $9, which is very expensive considering the buyers are Syracuse college students already under the high pressure and cost of expenses enforced by university. If the total cost of attendance to Syracuse is close to $75,000 annually, why do they make easy and efficient ways of making sure students are getting proper nutrition so costly? The average debt of a student in college is $38,000, so those $10 café purchases can really add up. Research has shown that students are able to learn better when they’re well nourished, and eating healthy meals has been linked to higher grades, better memory and alertness and faster information processing. This is the reason why SU should lower the costs of cafe prices around campus. If the costs were to be lowered, more students wouldn’t have to think twice before grabbing a quick meal or snack before class. The benefits would directly affect students on our own campus and work to eliminate the low nutritional diet of many college students.

Sincerely,

Soleil Sferlazza

SU Sophomore