SAGE, Gonzaga’s lunch service, has undergone changes the past few years. SAGE, like many operations on campus, adapted because of the Covid-19 pandemic and never looked back. These changes have left some upperclassmen disappointed while underclassmen, who never experienced the old version of SAGE, have differing opinions about the quality of the lunch service.
SAGE today looks very different then SAGE from the 2019-20 school year, which was the current senior class’ freshman year. Back in 2019, if a student bought lunch, he paid per item. SAGE had set stations for different types of food. Menu items rotated everyday, but some items were consistently available. Everyday, SAGE had a burger station, as well as a soda machine and many different types of desserts, fruits and yogurts.
“SAGE freshman year was great. The food was amazing. The soda machine was great,” said Ted Legloach, senior.
Another member of the senior class echoed Legloach’s opinion.
“The food was actually really good. They had a lot more options; I feel like at that time and there was more variety,” said Michael McKnight, senior.
In the 2020-21 school year, SAGE switched it up because only one-third of the school was in attendance each day. SAGE had a limited menu and offered only a couple of options per day.
With everyone back in person for the 2021-22 school year, SAGE once again changed its system. Starting last year, students paid a one time fee of $1,150 for full access to the lunch service. There are 170 school days, so students are paying just under $7 a day. SAGE also removed the soda machine, the refrigerator that stored fruits and yogurt and the burger station and began serving just one dessert option per day.
“It’s a little bit more consistent in how other private schools approached the area, and it’s a little bit easier for SAGE to manage,” said Mr. Jim Kilroy, assistant headmaster for student life.
After a full school year of this system, SAGE kept it in place for the 2022-23 school year. Some students who loved the old version of SAGE expressed their views.
“I just feel like they [SAGE] don’t have any options. I feel like we are just not getting much for the money. I feel like we were much better off during my freshman year,” McKnight said.
Underclassmen, who never experienced the old version of SAGE, also gave their opinions.
“I would say I enjoy SAGE,” said Henry Scherer, sophomore. “It’s just so good, it’s got a variety of great foods, it’s just amazing.”
Another sophomore gave a differing opinion.
“I would say the portion sizes are a little bit too small, especially for the big lines which are kind of a pain to get seconds in,” said Cooper Cowley, sophomore.
It is clear that the seniors miss the old version of SAGE while the underclassmen have varied opinions.
With the Class of 2023 set to graduate in June, the old version of SAGE will be a distant memory as the current version of SAGE will be the only version the students know of going forward.
Carol Corgan • Feb 1, 2023 at 10:23 am
I enjoyed your article, Aidan. Nice to see what students are thinking about SAGE’s system.