Dear Verdict,
How can I maximize free food at the law school? What’s your optimal lunch circuit?
Dear Reader,
Mangia, mangia! Starting with the basics . . . . Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 10:30 am in the Big Warren lobby, the school provides free pastries, bananas, and granola bars. Sometimes you’ll see an orange. And I am counting muffins and scones as pastries—let’s not get too technical here.
Academic or Speaker Events
I must preface this discussion by encouraging everyone to RSVP and then actually attend any free food events! RSVPing helps groups get enough funding and enough food. And you’ll learn something—just some food for thought.
I begin where we all do: Gmail. I am not going to list every listserv or newsletter that advertises free food events because I don’t want to. But, I am going to give you the tools to fish and then you’ll have so much fish. Sign up or stay signed up for emails from campus life, student orgs, university centers, and more. You can subscribe to these emails through CLS Connect (or un-unsubscribe if you were a little hasty with that unfollow in August).
Sometimes the subject line will clearly state “LUNCH EVENT” but not always. I suggest opening and skimming “The Gavel: Your Weekly Student Affairs Newsletter” and the daily “Today’s Events” from the CLS Calendar email. Also, look at the actual content of emails from CLS academic centers, like Kernochan or the Knight Institute, for free food and intellectual stimulation. If you want to venture beyond the law school, read the “This Week at Columbia” emails (from universitylife@columbia.edu) which occasionally advertise free food events for the larger campus.
Now let’s venture beyond Gmail. Starting off easy, check your class year’s GroupMe daily and maybe even turn on its notifications if you’re feeling social (and patient). Open up CLS Connect. Look through that events calendar and start adding them to your GCal or iCal. Plus, it will make your schedule look even busier so you can win Stresslympics!
Riding the Circuit (physical locations for leftovers)
Time for some hypos . . . . Let’s say you miss that BW 10:30 am cutoff, don’t fret! It’s worth doing another check because *sometimes* there are leftovers. Fingers crossed for you <3 If all else fails or you are feeling a little spontaneous, time to take a lap. After the lunch meetings end (usually at 1:10 pm), check out the back of all the JG rooms. Next, make your way to Lenfest because some groups will drop their leftovers there. No luck? If you’re feeling adventurous, go to BW. Start with the lobby, then hit the stairs or elevator. Student events are usually in the basement or on the third floor. Sometimes you can find leftovers from faculty/student service events on the fourth floor. Unlikely though. Don’t be mad at me (baby eyes).
Happy munching,
Kat