New location improves Midnight Breakfast

The Midnight Breakfast was held this past Saturday as a part of Fall Fest, and attracted a sizable crowd of at least 700 undergraduates and young alumni.

The event, which served attendees free breakfast fare at midnight, was held in the Rec Center this year, as opposed to its traditional venue of the Fresh Food Café, in order to minimize rowdiness and maximize the space, attendance and food at the event.

"The FFC was very crowded and clustered last year, and we wanted to accommodate more people this year so we decided to put it in the Rec Center," Janet Kirsh, head of the event as well as of Fall Fest, said.

In previous years, the venue had deterred students from attending. The space was too small to accommodate the number of students who wanted to come, and the event was congested. Students had to wait in a line outside of the FFC only to encounter additional delays in the FFC, where they had to wait in more lines for food.

"Last year, we tried to come, and we couldn't because the line was too long and it's wasn't moving at all. The FFC was too small," junior Andi Shahu said.

Many students did not have the time to wait for food in the past because of their hectic schedules, and many were disappointed when they would come to the event and there would be a shortage of food.

"This event is organized really well. I heard that they ran out of food last year, and that's why I didn't decide to go. There was a really long line, and I had a lot of work to do," junior Jen Alejo said.

The success of this year's event can be attributed to the reduction of lines, the abundance of food and facility's organzation. The lines outside of the Rec Center moved swiftly and accommodated all of the students who wanted to attend the event.

The process of obtaining food was quickened with four separate buffet stations, as well as a center for condiments and another for drinks. Also, Kirsch and the organizers of the event anticipated the crowd of 700 and prepared accordingly.

"People didn't have to fight over pancakes. We increased [the amount of food for] the number of people we were serving to; we planned for more people," Kirsch said.

After getting food, there were tables spread across the gym and hungry students easily found places to sit, unlike at last year's event when students struggled to find a seat at one of the limited number of tightly situated tables at the FFC. Many students expected the event to be rowdier, but the enhancement of security and service limited the disorderliness and created a relaxed environment.

"The students were calmer this year; they didn't have to fight over space. People were just more relaxed because they got through the buffet line easier," Kirsch said.

The new, more expansive space necessitated a heightened level of security to maintain order at the event. Typically, events held at the rec center have the same entrance and exit, but Kirsch thought it would be easier to manage the crowds if people entered from the front door and then exited through one of the doors in the Rec Center.

Students reacted positively to all of the improvements at the event, especially to the quality of the food.

"I've actually never been to this before. I'm usually not on campus at midnight. But I'm on campus and there's free food, and it's really good," junior Michelle Kirk said.

Many upperclassmen were particularly glad to come to the event because of nostalgic memories of the FFC, and though they did not get to return to that specific location, they were able to meet up with friends after late nights of studying and socializing to have a meal together.    

"We really like the idea and we don't get to go to the FFC anymore, so this is one way that we get to experience that again. And also, eating breakfast food at midnight is always great," Shahu said.

Some felt that the event was catered to the young alumni as the event was held markedly close to the Tent Party for young alumni. Though the relocation accommodated them, young alumni were disappointed that the event was not in the FFC like it was when they were students.

"I stopped going to the FCC after my freshman year, so it was fun to go back, especially at midnight, and [the event] was right after classes started. It's not the same event at all. It's not a downgrade, but it's not what I was looking for," Caroline Bleggi, an alumn from the Class of 2011, said.

Kirsch insists that the event was held primarily for the undergraduates, and that the benefits of the Rec Center outweigh those of the event being held in the FFC. For example, this was a zero-waste event; everything used, including the silverware, was compost-able.