Starting this semester, Oberlin’s Fourth Meal option has been moved from the Rathskeller to Stevenson Dining Hall. Here are some opinions from students regarding the change in location, hours, and food quality.
These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Briar Shear, College second-year:
I’m looking around Stevie right now, and it feels empty and hollow and kind of spooky. When it was at the Rat, it was this small space. There was music playing. It felt much more intimate and friendly. I think that’s what we’re really missing with the move to Stevie — not only the change in location and convenience, but also being in Stevie has such a different vibe than being in the Rat, and I feel like it’s really not cohesive anymore.
Talia Richer, College third-year:
When it was at the Rat, it was great. It’s way less convenient now that it’s at Stevie because you can’t order it ahead of time, and you can’t bring it with you as easily. Also, they should do dessert more often because it’s only savory things now, it seems like, and that sucks because sometimes you really want cheesecake. The cheesecake was good.
William “Billy” Sawyer, College first-year:
I don’t come to Stevie for Fourth Meal super consistently, but I do enjoy it. I think some people aren’t happy with the lack of variety, but I don’t feel like there’s much room to complain about that because the fact that they even offer food at this time is convenient. I do really like how it is offered in take-out style and disposable containers by default.
Sebastian Heisler-Martin, College third-year:
It was good Sunday night at the very least. I quite enjoyed it. They gave a lot of french fries and a very solid burger. I liked the convenience of being able to order it from the Rat a bit better compared to Stevie’s in-person meals, but I haven’t noticed any decline in food quality. It’s always been good. The online menu is a little sporadic, so sometimes I don’t know what it is because it won’t show up, but that’s pretty much the only negative thing I have to say about it.
Abhinav Ghosh, College first-year:
The last time I came, they served chicken and bread, which wasn’t good, but today’s taco was enjoyable. It’s like a hit or miss. My friends were on the toilet for like 30 minutes last time, and it was not the best experience. I do think it’s convenient; in America, people eat too early. Back in India, we eat around 9 p.m., and I know a lot of places that eat late. I just came back from volleyball, and it’s nice to have Stevie open at this hour.
Kyusok Kim, College first-year:
I’ve been to Stevie Fourth Meal three times now and all of them have been super good. Back in Japan, I’d eat around 7, 8, or even 9 p.m. Sometimes you’re not hungry if you haven’t done a lot during the day. When you go to the Rat, Umami, or Lord Saunders, they usually close pretty [early], so Stevie becomes a really good place to dine. There’s not a lot of people here, so I can have good conversations without yelling. I think both the food and the space are really good; it’s almost a kind of community-building area.
Milo Antonaides, College third-year:
Fourth Meal has always been what Oberlin does best with food: cold, slimy, greasy. That’s what I want — and I don’t want it in an impersonal box. In the Rat, there’s no place where I can look at other people eating a greasy meal. I’m just eating alone. But here at Stevie, everyone is eating around me. I like that it moved to Stevie. I know that’s controversial, but I like it here. It’s like the stuff you get from Lunchables — it’s got ground beef, veggies, cheese, and all that. It’s pretty good.
Hannah McAndrew, College third-year:
As a co-oper, any meal is a good meal when somebody else pays for it. To speak on the changes in the meal plan system, I think we should be back to seven meals a day because it means I get more free stuff, but other than that, I like tacos. I like being with my friends. 10 out of 10.
