Whether you are a new Freshman or an experienced Senior, you know the atmosphere of a college cafeteria.

You walk in with a mindset of anxiety, nervousness, possibly (actually in most cases) with the acceptance of being disappointed, and most importantly, with a grumbling stomach. The slow lap around the stations gives off an unsettling feeling of uncertainty and some regret for not making that peanut butter sandwich in your dorm. But with that swipe you just used hanging over your head, you know you have to eat something.

If you are like me in these desperate times, you are either forced to try that bowl of surprises or to fall back on your “safeties” : the sandwich line, the cereal, or the hummus. Now this is not a bad part of the cafeteria. It simply challenges us everyday to channel our creativity and all the talents that got us into college. It keeps us on our toes.

Although, something prevents even the best from doing this.

There is an atmosphere change once students enter the vicinity of a college cafeteria. It becomes the actual hunger games. Sorry it was right there guys.

People you have had classes with, teachers, your roommates, and even your closest friends are unrecognizable. They are ruthless. They are hungry. They are your competition to get the last blueberry pancake.

What I am describing to you can take many forms. It can be as small as a slight cut in line to as large as taking the last heaping of hummus, the final french toast bagel, or the finishing spoonful of tater tots.

Now what I mean makes more sense with a specific scenario. Imagine you have had a bad day at college, I know completely rare and totally uncommon but use your imagination. You woke up for your 8 A.M. at 9 A.M. missing that pop quiz in Macroeconomics, then sat through 3 hours of other classes and 1 hour of lab, and now your stomach is grumbling so loud people are wondering if it is thundering outside. Possible if you live in Tennessee but alas you check and it is just your stomach.

Naturally you head to the cafeteria in this time of need because as a college student you rarely have the money to go to Chago’s and get that delicious bowl of queso and even though it is month one in the new semester, you have already maxed out your declining points on Chik Fil A.

But back to the scenario. Small recap - You are sad. You have little money. You enter the caf.

You walk in head drooping until you realize it is your cafeteria’s best day, and I mean it is thriving. There is a significant glow about the entire room and the whole day feels brighter. You can hear laughter and chewing, all good signs.

At Belmont this day is something special. It is chicken tender day.

You are so pumped to get that nice heaping load of tenderness that you quicken your pace to get in the entree line.

You wait in that long line smelling the intoxicating aroma of crispy chicken, so distracted you barely notice another student pop in line in front of you. Your heart rate is increasing each step closer to filling your plate with these fried wings of goodness and when you get to the front you grasp the handles of the scoopers with such excitement that it takes you a second to notice what is in front of you.

The chicken tender bin is empty. The only remains are burnt fried scraps that not even a mouse would enjoy and you think, how could this have happened?

Let me tell you folks this is a result of the dog eat dog nature of the cafeteria. It happened because the student you didn’t notice cut you in line did so to grab those last golden nuggets for their own stomach. It happened because even prior to this moment none of your friends texted in the group chat, “CHICKEN TENDERS IN THE CAF”, because they wanted to make sure they got them first. These kinds of behaviors are happening at all times.

I will admit that I am not exempt. I myself will meticulously sort through the fruit bowl just to have grapes and pineapple in my bowl. As a result the next person who comes will be highly disappointed unless they love melon. I have yet to meet such a person but I am sure they do exist.

It is the circle of hanger.

Take it upon yourself at this time to stop the madness. To beg students to think of the children and never be these people. OR if you find yourself in these dire situations, at that point just give up, treat yourself to some Chipotle and call it a day. Honestly, I will probably see you there.