Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
Sharples is a weird place. Setting the quality of the food aside, as the only real meal option on campus, it has become a pillar in many of our lives. Add onto that the unrelenting consistency of its 4-week meal rotation, and Sharples becomes an unlikely hero that grounds us throughout our Swarthmore tenure. By senior year, you look forward to those chocolate chip cookies at Monday lunch. You know to show up at 4:30 on local foods night (freshmen, get ready). You know that a line at the panini press is a sign you should just continue walking out the back door and towards Renato’s. You know who makes the best omelets, and you’ve lined up outside the serving area at 10:55am on a Sunday with a plate of veggies cut and ready. For all its idiosyncrasies, I find comfort in the knowledge that no matter what else happens during my weekend, I know it will always end with pasta bar. So, Sharples? I’m dedicating this one to you.
What surprised me this week is that besides the undisputed champions (Indian and Caribbean) and the undisputed losers (Pasta and Antipasto), we really don’t agree on what bars we love and hate. The next time you’re whining about potato bar (as I often do), remember that just as many people that hate it consider it one of their favorites.
It’s a weird world out there, folks.
The other unsurprising takeaway is that the worst times for food at Sharples, on average, are Friday and Saturday night.
First of all, our lovely staff, like everyone else, deserves a weekend off.
Second, this may be Sharples’ subtle way of giving us that push we need to get off campus and try something new. Can’t bear another Chicken Grilla Bar (can any of us?) hop on a train to Philly, and thank Sharples for the inspiration.
Finally, to the respondent who put “pasta” as all three of your least-favorite bars? I feel you. We all do.
Since fall break is nigh, Swat Visually will resume when we get back to campus after fall break. Good luck with your midterms, kids, and we’ll see you soon,
Swat Visually
50 is too small of a sample size 🙁
Too small for what? The t-distribution works well for samples less than 30-50, and by the time you hit n=50, the t distribution is nearly indistinguishable from the Normal…inference for a sample of this size may not be exact, but it will be far from imprecise.
Plus, this is a 3% sample from the Swarthmore population…the standard sample size for a Gallup poll is n=1000, for a national poll! Which is a markedly smaller percent of the national population…
Methinks you should learn some actual statistics!
Relevant, though almost five years old: http://daily.swarthmore.edu/2009/12/07/pasta-bar/
Cool graphic! What program did you use to make it?