It is a truth universally acknowledged that a college student in possession of little fortune must be in want of free food. Perhaps this desperation for a meal or snack outside of the dining hall menu is what has spurred President McCartney’s and the OSE’s continuous, impromptu offerings of food to students. Walking from Seelye to the quad, the site of a s’mores cooking station brightens the tired eye and quickens the sluggish step. A warm hot cocoa is enough to be momentarily content on Chapin Lawn.
Compared to the Geothermal Engineering Project or the ongoing construction of the Alumnae House, this is one of McCartney’s lower effort, higher reward projects. A phone call to a food carrier and a calendar is all it takes to gather students together for a photo-op. It’s ridiculously simple, so much so that as we look to the future, it’s easy to disregard as our other ambitions materialize. I argue, however, that it’s essential for Smith’s incoming President, Sarah Willie-LeBreton, to continue this unofficial practice.
This isn’t for love of s’mores or hot chocolate — it’s for spontaneity. The dining halls serve a variety of meals everyday, and even the pickiest of eaters can typically find something satisfactory. The quality of a food truck s’more, consisting of ingredients one can find at their local Stop and Shop, isn’t at all better, nor is the quality of the hot chocolate. We get eager when we see it, however, because it’s not another tack to add to the calendar. It’s a break in the often meticulously planned schedule of the average Smith student. Awaiting a dessert or favorite meal from the dining hall is one thing — but what’s special about these events is that they aren’t looked forward to. They just appear, and the heart races from the surprise.
These little surprises do have a more scientific name. In essence, Kathleen McCartney is giving us “intermittent variable rewards.” Positive behavior is rewarded randomly rather than every time it’s performed. We don’t get a reward everytime we walk past Chapin Lawn, but when we randomly do, it encourages us to do so again. This concept is often cited as the secret tool which keeps us glued to our phones.
It’s unlikely that McCartney is trying to hack our brains and get us addicted to walking to class. There is something to be said, though, for the positive effects surprises can have on our motivation to continue certain behaviors. There is already plenty to demotivate us. Finals loom large at this point in the semester, and with that comes an unpleasant era of all-nighters and overlapping calendar events. Laying in bed seems preferable to making the freezing trudge to get assigned more work one doesn’t want to do.
Most concerningly, we’re lacking in the structural requirement to relieve the stress — individualized on-campus counseling remains inaccessible for the vast majority of students, and extreme stress is something many are forced to cope with, even when it’s unbearable. Obviously, cute little snack events aren’t going to fix that. The hope is that Willie-LeBreton takes more productive steps to improve mental health services on campus. This isn’t a plea to forego that goal for s’mores.
It is, however, a plea to retain some of the more positive parts of Smith’s campus culture. The little things can also have a meaningful impact on how community members interact with one another and on mental health. Spontaneous community events, where students can gather among friends and enjoy the company of their fellow students, can serve as a de-stressing mechanism, even if the stress relief is only minimal in comparison to what more robust mental health services might provide. Any kind of joy in such a high stress environment as Smith is worthwhile. While it won’t be the difference between good and poor mental health, it absolutely can be the difference between a good day and a bad day. That counts for something.
There is plenty to unlearn from President McCartney’s reign. For all of her good, no president is perfect, and if Willie-LeBreton holds up a mirror, there will be no progress. However, perhaps what is most perfect, most untouchable in Kathleen’s tenure is her appreciation for a good surprise snack. We would be remiss to let that go.
