Articles

Dr. Bonike Helps Bon Appetit: How our Campus Dining Has Changed

By Madeleine Cerone

January 31, 2023

Have you been wondering about the authentic, international street food at the McEwen dining hall? Or the sushi bar at Soper Commons? International Student Services may have had something to do about these changes in student dining across campus.

During the Fall 2022 semester, the director of International Student Services (ISS), Dr. Bonike, met with Reuben Haag, the General Manager for Bon Appetit. Dr. Bonike set up a meeting with Mr. Haag, Chef Derek, and many of the international students on campus to discuss some concerns and ideas that the international students had. They sat around a table together in the DMC, discussing the impact food has on students’ sense of belonging and some possible solutions for the future. Dr. Bonike shared with me that involving students as well as service providers in the process of creating new, inclusive practices is essential to serve students who come from a wide array of backgrounds and global regions. Dr. Bonike allowed this important conversation about food, culture, and changes to happen and now we are seeing the results.

Multiple students have reported to Dr. Bonike that the quality and the authenticity of the food in our dining halls have greatly improved. These were concerns mentioned in the meeting between Mr. Haag, Chef Derek, and international students that took place last semester. Bon Appetit has since been very responsive and many positive changes have been made in this new year. 

We are grateful to Bon Appetit for helping to better our dining experience at Hamilton, especially for international students. “For international students, [these changes] demonstrate that Hamilton College is uniting students by their shared passion for specialty food,” Dr. Bonike told me. Not only is this beneficial for international students, but it also creates a place for the rest of us to learn about other cultures through their custom dishes. 

Thank you, Bon Appetit, for making our international students feel more at home in the United States and for providing the space for students to learn more about other cultures through cuisine.