For those students who find themselves regularly watching programs on the Food Network or following food-related Instagram accounts, Nina Poosikian ‘17 has a resource that might appeal to you.
Poosikian is in the beginning stages of starting a chapter of Spoon University on Fairfield’s campus. Spoon University is an online “food resource” for college students nationwide.
“It’s different because it’s all food-based. Its like HerCampus a little bit … but it’s all strictly food – restaurant reviews, dining hall hacks, how to get rid of a hangover. It’s just funny things that people can relate to,” Poosikian said.
Spoon University would be a unique asset to Fairfield students, according to Poosikian. “Obviously a lot of people aren’t a fan of Barone’s food, so to get people different alternatives, or how to do the dining hall hacks, like stir fry station, I feel like it would be cool to change people’s minds about it,” said Poosikian.
We want people to have their own hole-in-the-wall places to discover, and show the campus that there’s more than just going to Panera,” Poosikian feels.
Poosikian discovered Spoon University through the Instagram account, @New_Fork_City, which was written about last summer on Spoon University’s national site.
“I found that over the summer and then my friend at Nova Southeastern University had just brought a chapter to her school, and said to me ‘You literally told me about this months ago, why haven’t you done anything about it?’ So a week ago, I proposed it [Spoon University] [to Fairfield], and they emailed me back the next day, saying ‘We loved your proposal, and we want to bring it.’ It’s been very quick,” she said.
Since then, Poosikian has been extensively advertising the petition to bring the site to Fairfield. She has also been preparing for the next steps to starting the chapter.
After receiving 300 signatures by March 27, Poosikian’s next task is to gather applications within the next two weeks.
“With Spoon, there’s a way anyone can get involved. No matter what major you’re in, no matter what interest you have, there are ways to get involved,” Poosikian said.
I want people that are committed. People who want it to succeed as much as I do. I have people who are interested in writing, and even just have a passion for leadership. If they have the commitment to be involved, those are the kind of people who I want to hear from.”
After receiving applications, Poosikian will have one additional week to pick her team. Once a staff is in place, Poosikian will have time to compile content and develop the website further.
Overall, Poosikian believes that Spoon University will be a beneficial tool for students to become better acquainted with their greater campus community.
“There’s so many local businesses to get interested in that are really cool places,” Poosikian said.
However, not all students necessarily agree that Spoon University would be a good addition to campus life.
“All the friends I know that use it go to big schools, and I feel like it wouldn’t be so applicable here. I feel like there is less to play around with here,” said Katie Dalton ‘17.
Freshman Jennifer Schwartz agrees that Spoon University wouldn’t be a well-used resource for on-campus students.
“I don’t know if people would say, ‘Oh, I’m going out, I’m going to check this first.”
Some students also feel that attracting writers for Spoon University would be difficult because of prior commitments.
“I probably wouldn’t [write for Spoon University]. I don’t feel like I have time for it, I don’t cook much, and I don’t eat off campus very often,” said Julia Fowl ‘17.
Despite this, Poosikian is hopeful that she will attract a hardworking staff who will contribute to Spoon University’s overall success. “The responses have shown that so many people believe in this as much as I do,” she said.
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