By Theodore Geigle
The Scene staff
The Forest Park cafeteria closed permanently this summer, and the bookstore is only open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.
That leaves vending machines as a main source of food and drink for students and faculty with afternoon and evening classes.
“I’m OK with the selection, but I wish they would fill them up more,” said Julie Venesh, 18, a general transfer studies student.
Venesh noted that vending machines on campus are often half-empty and sometimes they malfunction, taking people’s money and not giving them their chips or soda.
Venesh said she lost about $1 in a vending machine recently.
This semester, there’s been a noticeable shortage of bottled water in vending machines. That may be related to the fact that water fountains are taped off due to COVID-19.
“I have had a couple students ask me about water,” said Kristine Mothershead, a biology professor.
Two companies involved
Forest Park has nearly 30 vending machines scattered around campus, according to Rodney Jones, St. Louis Community College auxiliary manager.
They offer soda, tea, water, chips, candy, chewing gum, protein bars and other snacks.
All of the vending machines are operated by PepsiCo or Dynamic Vending, a company based in Hazelwood.
“We try to keep them in working order,” said Nicole Evan, accounting clerk for Dynamic, which operates the snack machines.
Representatives for PepsiCo, which operates the drink machines, couldn’t be reached for comment.
“Our supplier is having issues getting (water) in,” said Evan, noting that Dynamic operates drink machines elsewhere. “We have even checked with other suppliers, but they are having the same problem.”
Expanded food selections
The cafeteria closure has prompted Jones to expand food selections in the bookstore, adding frozen pizza, burgers and Hot Pockets that can be microwaved.
The college recently added a “food carousel” on the second floor of the Center for Nursing and Health Sciences that offers chili dogs, sandwiches and other refrigerated items.
“We’re looking to get one in the bookstore as well,” Jones said.
People who lose money in vending machines can get refunds at the Forest Park bookstore, but many don’t know it.
Stickers on Dynamic snack machines provide contact information for customers who want to make “comments or suggestions.” Stickers on PepsiCo drink machines provide a phone number to report “malfunctions.”
“I probably get two to three requests a month (for refunds at Forest Park),” said Jones, who oversees bookstores on all STLCC campuses.
General transfer student Jacob Thoene, 18, said he lost $3 in a vending machine in the former cafeteria, which now serves as a study hall.
Thoene paid for a snack with his credit card, but the snack didn’t drop from its shelf. He didn’t seek a refund.
“I did not think it was worth the trouble,” he said.