HALIFAX, N.S.— As the school year bumps to a start, many first-year students are making the adjustment to a residence lifestyle. Becoming accustomed to the dining hall in particular is a change that most new students struggle with. Though it can be difficult, Dalhousie University is taking new steps to make this transition easier for students, and one of those steps is to appeal to them through pop culture.
This year, the Dalhousie dining halls are taking a “brat” approach to nourishing their students. Those unfamiliar with the album by British singer/songwriter Charli xcx might be confused as to what this means. Those in the know may be even more confused, as the dining halls have confirmed multiple times they will not be giving the students cocaine.
Upon entering dining halls, students may observe that all signs and labels have been changed to a bright neon green colour with text written in lowercase Arial Narrow. However, this is just the beginning of the dining halls’ “bratification,” as they now only serve vegetables that are a vibrant green and are granting free meal plans to all students named Julia.
“We’re here to serve,” said dining hall employee Gabriette Lorde. “And we’re also here to serve food.” Lorde is one of the few staff enthusiastic about the bratification, while others declined an interview. “I’m happy to talk talk to you, even if my coworkers won’t. Most of them are being real mean girls about this, and think it’s lame, but personally I feel so inspired. Like, girl, I know it can be so confusing to adjust to residence life, so, I want to give our students the best dining hall experience every day, 365. Besides the days and times we’re closed.”
The so-called bratification has been met with mixed reviews from students and parents, many unhappy with the quality of the apples.
“I’m paying thousands of dollars to eat here, yet the apple’s are rotten right to the core. It’s ridiculous,” said disgruntled student, Sophie George. “Every time I complain they just keep telling me we’ll ‘work it out on the remix’.”
Other students were also upset, some expressing how “chronically online” the dining halls have become, and some wishing they’d picked a different artist to support. “Charli xcx is so lame and how they’re executing this is so impractical,” said Sabrina Carpenter fan, Juno Keoghan. “They’ll keep giving us mountains of rotting fruit, yet god forbid they start serving me espresso.”
By Lauren Sooksom