Obituary: The Cook Commons We All Knew So Well

Published September 10, 2007

By Lauren Foley

Cook Commons, as we once knew it, is dead. Gone is the freedom of retail points, as it’s been replaced by a monstrous carte blanche creation similar to the likes of the Harris Millis Grundle.

More than just an easy stop for a caffeine fix, Cook Commons offered its students much more. Next door to most classes, the dining hall made convenience a priority. Students could buy a single item on the go, exchanging coveted points for their booty at the register. It was a place where even the most bizarre concoctions of spinach, yellow banana peppers, and honey mustard failed to raise an eyebrow when requested at Planet Healthy, a station formerly specializing in made-to-order wraps and salads. Sidewinder’s grilled paninis were plentiful and the potato cheddar soup, so achingly delicious in its refreshing simplicity, was a godsend to many cold and hungry patrons.

Our formerly beloved Cook’s (to those in the know) open arms and custom-made quesadillas have given way to cubbies at the door, a conveyor belt tray return, and the obligation of sitting down and eating your food on the premises.

The University’s decision to convert the dining facility into residential dining has banished our opportunity to sit without eating, mooch off the wireless internet between classes, and to grab a much needed cup of coffee before hustling over to
class in Lafayette or Williams Hall.

What I once took for granted will sorely be missed for the remainder of my UVM career. There was a casualty and ease to Cook Commons before, which many reveled in but few thought to appreciate. However, in its absence we are all sadly forced to realize that Cook served as the hub of central campus in more than one way.

With its loss, we students are a little lost, heartily disappointed, and sorely disheartened. The Cook Commons we knew and loved is no more.

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