Does SMC’s Center for Media and Design Campus Need a Cafeteria?

(L to R) Jenna Anderson and Elizabeth Servin both took courses at the Santa Monica College (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus in 2024. Anderson was a student in the fall, and had two evening classes. Servin studied at the campus in the spring, and had one class. Anderson isn’t bothered by the fact that the CMD campus lacks a cafeteria. “I only had classes in the evening, so I would use the EveryTable system. But for the most part, I would bring my own food. I suppose it would be nice to have a more open space like that, but I also don’t really mind how it's set up right now” she said. Servin has a different opinion. “From what I observe on CMD, there’s not really much of a community there. On the main campus, you can see everybody meeting up at the cafeteria. I think it would be very nice for the CMD students to have that option, especially for the people whose major is taught at this campus” she said. As for the menu and the hours at Cafe Ruisseau, both former SMC students like the coffee shop just the way it is. “Most of the time I just came here to work, and just a couple of coffees or soft drinks would be enough,” said Anderson. “They have a good assortment of snacks. There’s chia pudding and a couple of bakery options - it's enough to grab a bite in between classes,” said Servin.

Cafe Ruisseau contains a number of protein bowls and granola parfaits on its menu. The protein bowls consist of a creamy, fruity base that includes vegan protein and is topped with granola, fruit, and nuts. Some of them include a layer of chia seed pudding. Chia seeds are considered nutrient-dense powerhouses - they are rich in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, plant-based protein, calcium, and magnesium. Both the protein bowls and the parfaits are vegan and organic.Cafe Ruisseau is located at 2834 Colorado Ave Santa Monica, CA 90404, only a four-minute walk from the Santa Monica College (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus. The coffee shop is open from 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. on a daily basis. It attracts a mix of CMD students, and employees of companies such as Starz Entertainment, Lionsgate Entertainment, and Hailo, all located within a walking distance from the cafe. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsar)

One of the vending machines on Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus is a Premium Gourmet Coffee machine that provides hot chocolate and coffee - both black and flavored - beverages. The drinks come in Tall (small) and Grande (medium) sizes, and prices range from a dollar to $1.50. The machine’s menu offers a variety of flavors, starting with regular black coffee (cream and sugar can be added at request) and hot cocoa, and ending with a White Chocolate Caramel or a Cinnamon Vanilla Nut cappuccino.While the drinks that the coffee vending machine provides taste good, one could argue that, just like all the other food that can be purchased from such appliances, they are not particularly healthy and high in sugar and calories. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus does not have a cafeteria with a traditional selection of meals, drinks, and snacks. Students who don’t bring food from home or order takeout are forced to rely on campus’ Everytable Lounge or the vending machines. The vending machines provide only junk food, sugary soft drinks, water, coffee, and hot chocolate. That kind of sustenance is not nourishing enough and does not provide enough nutrients for the individuals who work and study at the CMD campus. However, when hunger does strike, it’s better than nothing.“Sometimes I bring food from home, but a lot of the classes on this campus are incredibly long, and when we have breaks, I either have to go to the vending machine or just go hungry,” said Film Production major Melody Vorce.“The stuff in the vending machines is really not nutritious for us, but at the same time, it’s better than going hungry,” agrees Vorce’s friend, Film major Jimmy Pinto. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsair)

Bodega Bites is one of Santa Monica College’s (SMC) several food security programs that provides free food for its students - it gives out free, healthy snacks such as granola bars, cereal, bars, and nuts to students who may be experiencing food insecurity. On the Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus a Bodega Bites Site is located on the first floor of Building A, in room 116, the Administrative Office. In order to receive a snack, every student must provide their current SMC student ID. When asked whether she thinks a Bodega Bites Site is a good enough substitution to an actual cafeteria on campus, Digital Media major Clara Mendonca said “It’s a good start, but I think ultimately, this campus should have something closer to a cafeteria, because there’s just so many students here. And a couple of snacks is not enough to last anyone through the day. I sometimes spend an entire day on campus, up to 12 hours just working on computers. So I think it would be nice to have a bigger space where people can eat, and a cafeteria where they cook real meals. Because I know a lot of people also commute out here, and sometimes it’s difficult to bring food with you.”

The drink and snack fridge at Cafe Ruisseau contains a number of protein bowls, granola parfaits, and cold bottled drinks. The protein bowls consist of a creamy, fruity base that includes vegan protein and are topped with granola, fruit, and nuts. The drinks include bottled water, kombucha, Little West cold-pressed juices, and organic and diet soda. Cafe Ruisseau is located at 2834 Colorado Ave Santa Monica, CA 90404, only a four-minute walk from the Santa Monica College (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus. The coffee shop is open from 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. on a daily basis. It attracts a mix of CMD students, and employees of companies such as Starz Entertainment, Lionsgate Entertainment, and Hailo, all located within a walking distance from the cafe. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsar)

Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus does not have a cafeteria where students can purchase hot meals, snacks, and drinks. In lieu of a cafeteria, CMD has the Everytable Lounge, located in Building C. Everytable is a Los Angeles-based "grab-and-go" food service chain that provides fresh,scratch-cooked meals priced according to the neighborhood an Everytable store is located in. Their mission is to make nutritious, affordable food accessible to everyone.While the Everytable Lounge refrigerator does offer healthy options such as a Turkey Taco Bowl (made with seasoned ground turkey, roasted corn salsa, white cheddar cheese, and black beans), some students complain that the meals are expensive or sometimes the fridge is simply empty. “I think a cafeteria would be great. Sometimes the Everytable fridge is empty, so you can’t really purchase anything. It’s kind of a bummer,” said junior and graphic design major Karima Salazar. “The stuff in the Everytable fridge costs a lot of money. I haven’t really used it that much because I don’t think it’s affordable,” said Film Production major Melody Vorce.

Cafe Ruisseau offers bagel breakfast sandwiches that are served from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. daily. The “Boogie’s Breakfast Sandwich” costs $12. It’s a bagel with scrambled egg, bacon, cheddar cheese, and chipotle mayonnaise. A "Bagel & Cream Cheese" costs $4.25 - choices of bagel include Plain, Everything, and Jalapeno Cheddar. Bagels are calorie-dense and high in refined carbohydrates, and bacon, mayonnaise, and cream cheese all add to the overall caloric intake. Cafe Ruisseau is located at 2834 Colorado Ave Santa Monica, CA 90404, only a four-minute walk from the Santa Monica College (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus. The coffee shop is open from 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. on a daily basis. It attracts a mix of CMD students, and employees of companies such as Starz Entertainment, Lionsgate Entertainment, and Hailo, all located within a walking distance from the cafe. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsar)

Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus does not have a cafeteria with a traditional selection of meals, drinks, and snacks. Students who don’t bring food from home or order takeout are forced to rely on campus’ Everytable Lounge or the vending machines. The vending machines provide only junk food, sugary soft drinks, water, coffee, and hot chocolate. That kind of sustenance is not nourishing enough and does not provide enough nutrients for the individuals who work and study at the CMD campus. However, when hunger does strike, it’s better than nothing.“Sometimes I bring food from home, but a lot of the classes on this campus are incredibly long, and when we have breaks, I either have to go to the vending machine or just go hungry,” said Film Production major Melody Vorce.“The stuff in the vending machines is really not nutritious for us, but at the same time, it’s better than going hungry,” agreed Vorce’s friend, Film major Jimmy Pinto. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus does not have a cafeteria with a traditional selection of meals, drinks, and snacks. However, there are several microwaves located in the campus’ Everytable Lounge, as well as one microwave installed in Room 111, the little space in the bottom corner of the parking structure where the vending machines stand. Anyone who works or studies at the CMD campus is welcome to bring their own food and heat it up in the microwave. The pre-made meals in the Everytable refrigerator can be heated up as well.However, some CMD students are not very keen on the idea of heating up food they brought from home on campus. “I think the campus would definitely be better with a regular cafeteria. People don’t always clean the microwaves after using them on this campus, and it’s a major health hazard,” said Film major Jimmy Pinto. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsair)

Cafe Ruisseau displays three or four baked goods items in its pastry case every day. The number of pastries in the case is always limited and the options look quite meager in comparison to Chaumont Bakery and Cafe, which has a bakery display case that's several times larger and is filled with a variety of fresh gourmet pastries. Chaumont Bakery and Cafe is located at 2930 Colorado Ave, just a two minute walk from Cafe Ruisseau, and is open from 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. on a daily basis. Cafe Ruisseau is located at 2834 Colorado Ave Santa Monica, CA 90404, only a four-minute walk from the Santa Monica College (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus. The coffee shop is open from 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. on a daily basis. It attracts a mix of CMD students and employees of companies such as Starz Entertainment, Lionsgate Entertainment, and Hailo, all located within a walking distance from the cafe. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsair)

Cafe Ruisseau includes Chewbang “Almond Bites” as a part of their snack selection. Chewbang “Almond Bites” are a sweet snack - a cross between a cookie and an energy bite. They are encased in a small plastic container that holds four “bite” pieces - several such packages are displayed on top of the pastry case. According to the ingredients printed on the packaging, the snack is gluten free, and contains almond flour, gluten free flour, egg white, butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and honey. Cafe Ruisseau is located at 2834 Colorado Ave Santa Monica, CA 90404, only a four-minute walk from the Santa Monica College (SMC) Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus. The coffee shop is open from 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. on a daily basis. It attracts a mix of CMD students, and employees of companies such as Starz Entertainment, Lionsgate Entertainment, and Hailo, all located within a walking distance from the cafe. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College’s Center for Media and Design campus does not have a cafeteria where students can purchase hot meals, snacks and drinks. In lieu of a cafeteria, CMD has the Everytable Lounge located in Building C, a Bodega Bites site, a few vending machines and a couple of cafes within walking distance from the campus that close after 4 p.m.

Everytable is a Los Angeles-based “grab-and-go” food service chain that provides ready-made meals priced according to the neighborhood where an Everytable store is located. Its mission is to make nutritious, affordable food accessible to everyone.

While the Everytable Lounge refrigerator does offer healthy and convenient options such as a Turkey Taco Bowl, some students complain that the meals are expensive or sometimes the fridge is simply empty.

“I think a cafeteria would be great. Sometimes the Everytable fridge is empty, so you can’t really purchase anything. It’s kind of a bummer,” said junior and graphic design major Karima Salazar.

“The stuff in the Everytable fridge costs a lot of money. I haven’t really used it that much because I don’t think it’s affordable,” said film production major Melody Vorce.

CMD also houses Bodega Bites, one of SMC’s several food security programs that provides free snacks and meals for students who may be experiencing food insecurity. On the CMD campus, the Bodega Bites site is located on the first floor of Building A in Room 116 at the Student Services Center. In order to grab a snack, students must provide their current SMC student ID.

While students appreciate the resource, some say the Bodega Bites site is not a good enough substitution for an actual cafeteria.

“It’s a good start, but I think ultimately, this campus should have something closer to a cafeteria, because there’s just so many students here. And a couple of snacks is not enough to last anyone through the day,”  digital media major Clara Mendonca said.

“I sometimes spend an entire day on campus, up to 12 hours just working on computers,” Mendonca said. “So I think it would be nice to have a bigger space where people can eat, and a cafeteria where they cook real meals. Because I know a lot of people also commute out here, and sometimes it’s difficult to bring food with you.”

Besides Everytable and Bodega Bites, CMD students’ only other food source on campus are vending machines, which provide primarily junk food, sugary soft drinks, water, coffee and hot chocolate. However, when hunger strikes, students say it’s better than nothing.

“Sometimes I bring food from home, but a lot of the classes on this campus are incredibly long, and when we have breaks, I either have to go to the vending machine or just go hungry,” said Vorce.

Vorce’s friend, film major Jimmy Pinto, agreed and said, “The stuff in the vending machines is really not nutritious for us, but at the same time, it’s better than going hungry.” 

For some students, the issue is about nutrition, but also about comfort and practicality. While students are allowed to bring food from home and heat it in the lounge microwaves, not everyone feels comfortable relying on shared appliances or carrying meals for long days away from home.

“I think the campus would definitely be better with a regular cafeteria. People don’t always clean the microwaves after using them, and it’s a major health hazard,” Pinto said.

Several students also pointed out that the lack of a cafeteria affects the sense of community on campus.

“From what I observe on CMD, there’s not really much of a community there. On the main campus, you can see everybody meeting up at the cafeteria. I think it would be very nice for the CMD students to have that option, especially for the people whose major is taught at this campus,” said former student Elizabeth Servin.

Servin and Jenna Anderson both took courses at CMD campus in 2024. Anderson isn’t bothered by the fact that the CMD campus lacks a cafeteria. “I only had classes in the evening, so I would use the EveryTable system. But for the most part, I would bring my own food. I suppose it would be nice to have a more open space like that, but I also don’t really mind how it’s set up right now” she said.

Both former students choose to do their work at Cafe Ruisseau, located at 2834 Colorado Ave., just a four-minute walk from the CMD campus. Cafe Ruisseau offers coffee, snacks and other light breakfast and lunch options; however, it closes at 4 p.m., making it inaccessible to many students with evening classes. Other cafes nearby operate on similarly limited hours.

“Most of the time I just came here to work, and just a couple of coffees or soft drinks would be enough,” Anderson said. “They have a good assortment of snacks. There’s chia pudding and a couple of bakery options - it’s enough to grab a bite in between classes,” Servin said.

The CMD campus is filled with students and employees who spend long hours working in labs and classrooms. Many commute from other parts of Los Angeles and remain on campus for extended periods of time. They need more than vending machine snacks, sugary drinks, or a Turkey Taco Bowl that’s been sitting in the Everytable fridge for an unknown amount of time. 

A cafeteria would not only provide proper meals, but also create a space for students to sit, eat and interact during long days on campus. For many CMD students, the issue is about creating a campus environment that feels complete.