Hofstra’s Mack Student Center was full of nothing more than quiet chit chat as the cooks and servers set up heat trays and laid out mini orange juices for Light Night Breakfast, the annual end of semester event. But within fifteen minutes of the preparation, the atmosphere changed as hundreds of rowdy students swarmed the back dining hall for the free breakfast meal, forming lines and occupying every available seat with as many plates of food as they wanted.
Something like an organized mob scene, students came from all directions; the library, the computer lab, every residence hall and even pulling up in cars from off campus housing.
“The best parts are it’s ‘food’ and its ‘free’ and those are a college student’s two favorite words” said sophomore dance major Jasmine Phillips.
The free meal is one of Hofstra’s most successful events all semester and correlates with the beginning of finals week. Planning for this semester by the Dean of Students Department ensured the lines ran quickly and smoothly, even handing out candy canes to students while they waited. The hot food consisted of French toast slices, scrambled eggs, sausage and home fries with options for kosher students like a pasta salad and vegetable and egg frittata. Other options besides hot food included a bagel bar, coffee and pound cake squares, assorted fruits, orange juice, hot chocolate and coffee.
The food was served by Lackmann employees as well as festive Office of Student Leadership and Activities employees like Executive Director Sarah Young and Associate Director Stan Cherian.
With many student meal plans running dangerously low towards the end of the semester and nothing but all nighters in the near future, the Late Night Breakfast serves as a light pick-me-up, giving Hofstra students a moment for a relaxing meal with friends. It’s no wonder it can be overheard time and time again that Late Night is one of the “best events all year”.
Continuing with the theme of relaxation, the Office of Student Leadership and Activities will be hosting free programs like massages and game nights all throughout finals week. Check www.hofstra.edu for more information and don’t stress! Good luck on finals, Hofstra!
-Tradition on the night before finals for each semester, 10 pm Mack Student Center
-Hundreds of students lined up starting at appx 9:20 pm
-Items served: bagels, oj, coffee, hot chocolate, scrambled eggs, home fries, French toast, sausage links kosher items: pasta salad and vegetable egg frittata
-“favorite event all semester” “food and free” meal plan low
-Free massages this week? Look into OSLA programming