This week on Chronversations host Aaron Guzman talks to Uriel Reyes about his year-long investigation into campus vending machines. Reyes visited 54 vending machines on campus every semester since Fall 2023 and discovered vending machines in five different campus buildings that contained expired items.

TRANSCRIPT:

0:10: Welcome back to the Chronicle Conversations. 

0:13: I’m your host, Aaron Guzman. 

 0:15: Many students on campus purchased their snacks and drinks from vending machines, with the most snack and drink variety being available in the 624 South Michigan building, as well as the 1104 South Wabash Avenue and 623 South Wabash buildings. 

 0:30: But healthier items in these machines are heavily outnumbered by the unhealthy options that they have to offer. 

0:36: I am joined by Chronicle reporter Uriel Reyes for more insight. A drink vending machine on the fourth floor of the student center holds healthier protein shakes as it is in close proximity to the fitness center. 

0:47: What problems are students experiencing with food options on campus? 

0:51: “Many students experience problems due to not finding food that fits their dietary restrictions. In addition to the prices as well as many items that they would like to buy 

1:00: they are not available on campus. 

1:02: And along with that, we had the issue where in Fall semester of 2023, there was numerous items in the vending machines which were expired. 

1:10: Many items have allergen ingredients such as nuts and milk and the prices for some of these items,

1:16: they’re much higher in comparison to getting it from your local convenience store.”

1:20: Our campus previously had Farmer’s Fridge vending machines that sold much healthier food and drinks and were available to students from the 600 S. Michigan building. 

1:29: “They were removed in 2017 because of demand 

1:32: in addition to the price differences as these items, while they are healthier,

1:37: this vending machine is the Farmer’s Fridge which sells items such as yogurts, salads and fruit cups

1:42: and it’s available in places like the Shedd Aquarium here in Chicago.

1:45: While does have more healthier options compared to the regular on campus vending machines,

1:50: the price difference is much more higher compared to the more expensive items which are sold in the regular vending machine. 

1:58: And it just comes down to that, the price difference as well as demand. Because of factors like the price, it’s much cheaper for a student to buy something like a bag of chips, which costs $1.75 compared to a salad which costs like $6.”

2:12: Some vending machines on campus also provide feminine products and face masks. 

2:17: But some students feel as if the college is still missing out on some products that they could be putting in our machines, namely medicinal products. 

2:24: “I’ve spoken to several students and many have said that they wanted to see more protein options, such as more protein bar snacks. 

2:30: And in addition, this also goes back to one of the issues in relation to the vending machines, is the fact that there is a deferring variety depending on the building. 

2:38: As the vitamin water drinks there is about four flavors. 

2:42: The 623 South Wabash building, in the first floor is the only location which has the orange flavored vitamin water. 

2:49: This is in comparison to all the other campus buildings which either have the dragonfruit flavored vitamin water or the acai-blueberry pomegranate flavored vitamin water. 

2:57: Additionally, 623 first floor once again is the only one which has the tropical citrus flavor. 

3:02: And another thing which I have been told by students was they would like to see medical supplements such as Advil and Tylenol.” 

3:09: Some students on campus have to resort to looking for more food alternatives from the many different stores and outlets that are available all around campus. In 2025,

3:18: prices for both food at home as well as food away from home are expected to increase, which may make it more difficult for students of Columbia to find healthier food options at a reasonable price. 

3:29: “Students typically buy food from a variety of stores around campus either on State Street, on Wabash from down Michigan. 

3:35: Some stores are Trader Joe’s, Jewel-Osco, Target, 7-Eleven and CVS, that would be for buying food off-campus. On-campus

3:43: there is the Frannie’s Cafe, which is the cafeteria that makes up the first floor of the Student Center, in addition to the cafeteria in the University Center.”

3:51: That’s all for this week. 

3:53: Make sure to stay up to date with campus and metro news at columbiachronicle.com and sign up for our newsletter at columbiachronicle.com/newsletter. 

4:01: Don’t forget to check out our new Three C’s podcast where we tell you about the three biggest things you need to know at Columbia for the week. 

4:08: I’m Aaron Guzman. 

4:09: Thanks for listening. 

Copy edited by Angel Marie Guevara