Lesson In Fine Dining: Unlimited Coffee = Food Fights

People keep telling me about the new dining service on campus, and how great it is. I have yet to taste for myself, but judging them by the stock photography on their new website, I'm getting the faintest soupçon of spandex and just a flutter of hilarity.

Food on campus has long been a contentious issue, as evidenced by Rowland Watts. For when Professor Watts wrote a brief history of Washington College in the late 19th century, he told the story of the first attempts at dining services, and how nobody could get it right.

In July 1819, the boarding of students at the college commenced. Various ways were tried. The steward employed did not succeed. Then Dr. Waters managed the boarding department, but was compelled to give it up. In March 1821, occurred the first "grub riot." It is very amusing to read the action of the board of visitors upon the petition of the students in regard to the matter of food. Their decision was worthy their reputation for discretion and wisdom. We can not give the menu, but fresh meat was to be served at least three times per week. When no fresh meat was served a simple dessert was to be provided. They were not to be limited in the amount of coffee consumed. . . . Then followed a long list of rules and regulations that as models of table etiquette would be quite interesting. Several times since then "grub riots" have occurred with varying results.

Today's dining hall is only a few dozen yard from the original, a part of the first college edifice on the hill. Notice how Watts focuses more on conduct than on menu -- which just goes to show, the college will little note, nor long remember what they consumed here, but it can never forget what they threw here.

P.S. Welcome The Washington Note and TPM Cafe readers.

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Big Ups, Coffee, College Dining, Funny Pictures, Sideways References, Washington College Professors