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The Daily Tar Heel

Students snap, crackle and pop over missing cereal choices

If there is one thing that's certain about UNC students, it’s that they are passionate about their dining hall cereal options. 

Recently, as certain favorite cereals have come and gone, many students have begged for answers.

“I have, on more than one occasion, filled an entire to-go box with just Reese’s Puffs. I’ve made many meals out of it,” said Kendall Bradley, a first-year. 

“All the sudden they weren’t there one day. So I left one of the napkins and asked why, and they said it was for allergy reasons. I don’t understand how there can literally be a peanut butter fountain — like, you push a button and peanut butter comes flowing out — and yet Reese’s Puffs are not allowed for allergy reasons.”

Bradley said it's something she is very passionate about. 

Brandon Thomas, Carolina Dining Services spokesperson, said the way the cereals dispense presents a particular issue. 

“We have removed Honey Nut Cheerios and Reese’s Puffs from the rotation due to allergy concerns,” Thomas said. 

“There’s a concern about cross-contamination whereas with the peanut butter dispenser, that’s kind of off on its own.” 

Napkins tacked to the cork board in the dining hall aren't the only way for students to voice their opinions. 

Thomas said social media, such as the Twitter polls that allow students vote for which cereals the dining halls will feature, has played a significant role in the dining hall’s approach to serving students. 

“It’s been huge. It’s a great way to get almost immediate-time feedback from students, and a way for us to communicate as well in real time,” he said.

Bradley has moved past Reese's Puffs to Lucky Charms and is joined by other students like first-year Trevor Hair. 

“Well, I must say, without Lucky Charms, those trips to the dining hall in that awkward time period between lunch and dinner where cereal is the only thing that they have would not be worth it if I didn’t have my sweet, colorful marshmallows to grab every time,” Hair said.

“They are always there for me, and for that I will be forever grateful,” he said.

university@dailytarheel.com

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