The Flat Hat conducted an anonymous survey to assess the most popular on-campus breakfast options. 464 students at the College of William and Mary responded.
“On-campus breakfast options” were defined as locations accepting meal swipes, Dining Dollars or both. Respondents were asked about their favorite on-campus breakfast option using a poll conducted via Yik Yak, an anonymous social media platform for university students. Respondents selected one of five popular campus breakfast options: Town Center Cold Pressed, The Bake Shop, Commons Dining Hall, Morning Musings at the Sadler Center and Column 15 at Earl Gregg Swem Library.
Town Center Cold Pressed, located in the basement of the Sadler Center, received 34% of all votes. The Bake Shop, which accepts Dining Dollars and is located on Armistead Avenue, finished second with approximately 28% of the total votes.
Other breakfast options, including Morning Musings and Column 15, each received less than 10% of votes.
Each location’s operating hours may influence student preferences.
Morning Musings, which was ranked second lowest in the student opinion poll, is open for four hours each weekday. Commons Dining Hall is open for 17 hours each day of the week.
Despite its longer operating hours, Commons Dining Hall serves breakfast between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. each day. Unlike the four other on-campus breakfast options, which serve breakfast throughout their operating hours, Commons Dining Hall offers the fewest hours of breakfast service.
Some of the College’s on-campus breakfast spots’ operating hours also differ on weekends.
The two on-campus breakfast spots receiving the fewest votes — Column 15 and Morning Musings — have the most reduced weekend hours.
The limited range of food items may also have influenced students’ responses.
Sienna Balardeta ’29, a member of the women’s soccer team, said the lack of healthy on-campus breakfast options often forces her to find alternatives off campus. She mentioned Hohl on N Boundary Street as a favorite spot.
“Me and my teammates love going on walks there on our off days and love all the healthy options,” she said.
Natalie Sayers ’30 said there are few gluten-free breakfast options at the College.
“There is a gluten-free section at Caf [Commons Dining Hall], but they typically serve the same thing every day,” she said.
Sayers said she often relies on Dining Dollars for breakfast, which can be difficult to sustain for a full semester.
“It’s unrealistic to expect someone to only go to Caf if they have celiac,” she said. “You’re eating the same thing every day if you don’t want to run out of Dining Dollars.”
