I recently spent a weekend on campus to catch up on work at the library. During my time, I was struck by how empty and quiet the campus felt. What was supposed to be a lively space for students felt more like a ghost town. Food stations were closed, buildings were locked, and there was a palpable absence of campus events. This discovery led me to dig deeper into what dormers are experiencing on weekends and why these conditions persist.

After speaking with several residential students, it became clear that many feel abandoned by the university on weekends, with little to do beyond basic tasks like studying or socializing with friends in their dorms. I spoke with Tatyana and Brianna, two dormers who have
firsthand experience with the weekend monotony.

“What’s one thing you would change about how Pace operates on the weekends?”

Tatyana: “Add more events on the weekends. Campus life is so boring on the weekends.”
Brianna: “Have more things to do. I feel like once the week is over, everyone just stays in their rooms or visits each other’s rooms.”

“What’s the most annoying thing about being stuck here on the weekend?”

Tatyana: “The lack of activity.”
Brianna: “Being bored every weekend.

“What do you and others do on the weekend when you’re bored?”
Tatyana: “Go to the library and just catch up on homework because there’s really nothing to do.”
Brianna: “Yeah, or visit each other’s rooms to talk.

“What do you want Kessel staff and Residential Life to know about student life on the weekend?”

Brianna: “Open the pasta station on the weekends!”

It is clear from these conversations that students are looking for more events and activities to engage in during the weekends. Many feel trapped, with little to do besides homework or hanging out in dorms.

To gain insight into what student leadership is doing to address these concerns, I reached out to the SGA President Nick Diaz

“What are your plans for entertaining students who are stuck at Pace on the weekends?”

Nick: “Our plans for entertaining students focus on giving them more to look forward to during the weekdays. We don’t typically program on weekends because we understand that many students have other responsibilities during this time, like work or family. We’d hate to
host an event and have it go to waste if students can’t attend.

“What’s your advice for bored students on campus during the weekend?”

Nick: “My advice is to explore the campus! From our nature trail to the pool and foosball table in Kessel to the lounges in residential halls, there’s plenty to do. I’d also encourage students to download the CORQ app to see what events might be happening.” While it’s understandable that attendance might drop during the weekends, it’s important to consider that not all students leave campus. Dormers, especially, don’t always have the luxury of going home or off-campus due to personal, financial, or academic obligations. For those students, the campus can feel stiflingly quiet and under-serviced.”

Students are yearning for more activities and better access to food options. For many, weekends feel like an afterthought in the university’s planning. Students are left with limited choices, both in terms of recreation and food.

I contacted Kevin Henriquez, General Manager of Chartwells at Pace University, to ask specific questions regarding the issue. These included concerns about why most stations are closed, whether students could have a say in which ones remain open, and what options are available for
students who can’t access their preferred food stations. After a delay of two and a half weeks, Henriquez responded in a letter.

“I hope this letter finds you well. I’m happy to walk you through the options at Kessel available on Weekends. Currently, on weekends, we offer the full grill and full deli station. We also offer a salad bar, yogurt bar, a hot buffet, a fresh bakery, grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, fruit and desserts, soup, pancakes/waffles/cereal with toppings at the breakfast nook, as well as retail items around the register and in the freezers. We are open 10:00 am-8:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am-10:00 pm on Sunday. We are continuously working with Student Government and the PACE Dining Advisory Board regarding making improvements to the café, discussing new options, stations, or features, and most importantly, making sure that the student population is satisfied.”

While this response does provide a detailed rundown of what is currently available, it skips over the core issue of why so many stations are closed on the weekends and why students are not given a say in what they want to see open. There are only so many times a student can go to the grill station before they get tired of eating the same things. Henriquez also reiterated the basics of the meal plan structure, which many are already well aware of.

Most frustratingly, the key questions remain unanswered: Why are only the grill and sandwich stations open? Why are other popular options, like the pasta station, unavailable?  Would Chartwells be open to polling students on which stations they’d prefer to have available during weekends? What can students do if they can’t access their preferred options?

For dormers who rely on on-campus resources, these are pressing questions. Yet, instead of getting clear answers, students are left with a vague reassurance that “improvements” are being discussed. This response does little to address the immediate concerns of students stuck on campus, particularly when dining options play such a crucial role in daily life. Students deserve more transparency and responsiveness when it comes to both food services and campus programming. As a commuter, I have the option to leave at the end of the day, but for many students, campus life continues into the weekend. It’s time the university and its service providers recognize this and take action to improve the quality of
life for those who stay.