Opinion: Vending machines could use more variety

Images and Nutrition Information from: Coca Cola Bottling Company (Coke), Hershey’s (Reese’s), Frito Lay (Sun Chips), and Pop Tarts (Pop Tarts).
When X Period strikes, so does student hunger. St. Paul Academy and Summit School provides snack for middle schoolers, but the Upper School isn’t so lucky. Students usually turn, then, to the cafeteria for fruit, or the celebrated ice rink vending machines – otherwise known as the Drake machines. It’s permissible by the school rules, but could student snack options be better?
There are two vending machines hidden away near the athletic hallway. They aren’t noticed by some students. “I had no idea there were vending machines in the athletic hallway,” said freshman Riley Wheaton. Also, the food in these machines, since not many people use it, is really old. Not. Appetizing. I’d overlook that aspect if the machines actually worked. Freshman Maggie Vlietstra agrees. “I’d be like oh, okay goldfish, but that doesn’t work. And so I try ten different things before it finally spits something out,” Vlietstra said.
Many students have discovered that the machines tend to take money with no return of a snack or the coins. Also, the machines tend not to be refilled after snacks run out. “they never refill that machine” sophomore Deniz Kihtir said. There is virtually nothing positive coming out of those machines.
For both machine locations, there is one problem they have in common — the content. I need to take a practical view on this. The healthiest thing in the Drake Machines is a nature valley granola bar. Come on, SPA, we can do better than that. When we visit other schools, they have taken extra steps to give nutritious options for the students. There are many options, including refrigerated machines with yogurt and fruit. “The school would be better off without those machines,” Upper School spanish teacher Rafaela Salido said.
Many students, especially athletes, would prefer a handful of almonds to a fatty, sugary, Butterfinger. And I had been making a wrong assumption that the school wouldn’t offer carbonated beverages until I came across these machines for the first time in middle school.
I’m disappointed in the available drinks in the machines. It’s great that we have Vitaminwater as an option, but do we really need to put that next to the ever-appealing Coca-Cola™? The choice is there, but it’s not made any easier by the options. These options, healthy or not, though, are “way overpriced,” according to junior Steven Go-Rosenberg.
The vending machines are a blessing to most students, especially those who participate in after school activities. The disadvantages are overlooked, no matter how problematic they are, because they help. The vending machines are a great thing for a school to have, but could be more convenient in their locations and options.
It would be awesome if the school could change the location of the athletic hallway machines to a more functional spot that’s permissible by the school rules. “A student can go to Drake to X period, as long as they don’t bring the food back into the building,” said Dean of Students Judy Cummins.
“We understand that students need snack during the day,” she added. Cummins agrees that the cafeteria is a better location for the machines. “If the cafeteria were open all day to students, I think it would be a great spot [for a vending machine],” she said.
A current suggestion to improve the quality of the machines includes bringing in a third machine; a Healthy Vend. This machine is refrigerated and provides the opportunity to have foods that would otherwise perish in a normal machine, like Izze all natural soda, or apples and caramel packets. The idea has been presented to the Upper School Council, and has a possibility of being put into action in the next school year.

Boraan Abdulkarim, a senior at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, is looking forward to her fourth year on The Rubicon staff. Boraan enjoys calligraphy,...