We Scream at Plex East ‘Cause of the Ice Cream!

[Plex ice-cream machine] 

THAT IS THE SOUND OF THE NEW SOFT-SERVE ICE CREAM MACHINE BROUGHT BY NORTHWESTERN TO THE FOSTER-WALKER EAST DINING HALL, BETTER KNOWN AS PLEX EAST. WHILE STUDENT ACCESS AND OPERATION OPENED IN NOVEMBER, THE MACHINE TOOK UP SPACE BEGINNING AT THE END OF OCTOBER.

SECOND YEAR WEINBERG STUDENT DANIEL MIN SAYS NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNEW TOO MUCH ABOUT THE ADDITION. 

[Daniel Min] It wasn’t like a big of an issue from what I remember. My friends were just a little hyped about it. It wasn’t an issue that would last weeks of joy, or any issue, or any news like that. 

THE NEW MACHINE OFFERS TWO FLAVORS: CHOCOLATE AND VANILLA. TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, COMPASS DISTRICT MARKETING MANAGER SOPHIA BAMIATZIS TOLD THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN THAT ALLERGEN-FRIENDLY AND VEGAN OPTIONS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE. STUDENTS CAN SERVE THEMSELVES BASED ON PREFERENCES. 

SECOND YEAR MEDILL STUDENT ANITA LI HAS STRONG OPINIONS TO SHARE. 

[Anita Li] Chocolate. Ftw. If you think that vanilla is better, or if you think vanilla swirl is better, just unpack that, think about it, and just really reflect on why you made that decision.

[people talking in Plex dining hall]  

STUDENTS SAY THEIR EXPERIENCES VARIED BASED ON WHAT THEY EXPECTED IN ADVANCE.

[DM] The reviews I heard from my friends are that it isn’t THAT good. I tried it out myself, but it’s not like the ice cream you pay for in 7-Eleven and get that good taste from. Yeah, it was not bad, but it wasn’t like ex-splendor or that good either. 

[AL] I think the general consensus is don’t go in thinking you want premium dairy, queen, saucer. Go in thinking I want oat milk trying its best to be ice cream. 

THE FIRST EXPERIENCES ARE ALWAYS THE MOST EXCITING. AND THEY USUALLY DETERMINE WHETHER STUDENTS WOULD GO BACK FOR SECONDS. LI AND MIN HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS. 

[AL] Honestly, I think I was so excited that I wasn’t even thinking about like beggars can’t be choosers so like the minute I knew those ice cream I’m like whatever it is, I’ll take it. 

[DM] I don’t know. I think I’ll try it out again when I go down to Plex sometime, but I don’t think I’ll go voluntarily since I live up north. 

THERE ARE MIXED REVIEWS ON THE TASTE OF THE ICE CREAM ITSELF. BUT SOME SUGGEST THAT CUSTOMIZATION COULD MAKE THE EXPERIENCE BETTER. 

[AL] I was actually thinking of doing a soda flow, taking the soft serve and adding coke to it, or I wish in terms of toppings, I think Oreo or mochi would be cool.

IN GENERAL, STUDENTS SEEM TO HAVE DIVERSE OPINIONS ON THE QUALITY OF NORTHWESTERN’S DINING HALLS BASED ON THEIR BACKGROUND. ALTHOUGH RANKED AS 600TH OF 1,373 BEST COLLEGE FOOD IN AMERICA BY NICHE.COM IN 2023, NORTHWESTERN MEALS ARE APPRECIATED AND QUITE SATISFACTORY FOR SOME STUDENTS. 

[DM] I don’t have a, that much of a, grudge for the dining hall quality. Some of my friends do; some of my friends don’t ‘cause like at the end of the day, we have dining halls but also have other options like Norris or Frans or Lisa’s. 

LI SAYS SHE WOULD ENJOY THE MEALS EVEN MORE WITH THE FOLLOWING. 

[AL] More plantains, more, more of the mango coconut, chia seed pudding, cherry coke, and in Allison more no more zucchini, no more squash, more better warm vegetables, because I can’t like the salad. I can’t. I’m not built for that life.

[fork scraping on a plate]

THE NEW ICE CREAM MACHINE WAS IN FACT A STUDENT IDEA BROUGHT UP AS A RESOLUTION BY THE ASG SENATE. THE RESULT WAS A PASS WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE. 

[AL] Thank you ASG for making this happen! 

AFTER THREE YEARS OF NO ICE CREAM SERVICE, STUDENTS FINALLY HAVE THE OPTION FOR THE COLD DESSERT. REGARDLESS OF HOW BAD IT MAY BE, WE ALL KNOW THAT I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, AND WE’LL ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM. 

THIS IS JEONGEUN JENNIFER KIM SIGNING OFF FROM WNUR NEWS.

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