At George Mason University, students have a multitude of options on campus, ranging from food and alcohol to books and concert tickets. However, in spite of the abundance of choices, it seems that the student body has its favorites, which rarely change.
According to an article in The Mason Gazette, chicken tenders and ice cream are the first items students approach when they enter Southside dining hall, though there are some outliers.
“I head straight for the cereal bar,” said Holly Klodin, a freshman biology major. “That or the salad bar.”
Southside allows students to eat as much as they want for a set price. However, Southside is not a 24-hour facility, which leaves students to seek out alternate dining locations at night.
Pilot House, one of the newest places to eat on campus, has surpassed Ike’s as the most popular late-night diner. According to William Fry, director of retail operations for Mason Dining, in the Gazette article, the late-night snack of choice is a slice of cheese pizza or chicken wings.
“I like to get cheese pizza and fries,” said Ann Ibraz, a sophomore communication major. “I’m usually up late studying and just need a break.”
Mason’s local watering hole, the Rathskeller, is a nice place to watch a sports game or grab a cold beer to unwind after a long day of exams or papers. According to the same article, Fry said Mason students love Yuengling and like to drink it with a basket of chicken tenders.
“I actually didn’t even know the Rat served alcohol,” said Beth Nechamer, a sophomore English major. “Now that I do though, I’ll be there when I finally turn 21.”
Beyond the normal food and beverage purchases, the Patriot Center has had a successful year showcasing such acts as Alice in Chains, 30 Seconds to Mars and even Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. But according to the article, the top-selling act of last year was Gorillaz, and this year, students are already buying tickets for Ke$ha’s show in August.
The bookstore saw best-selling novels like “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “Water for Elephants” top the list.
Apple dominated the sales in the Patriot Computer stores with the new iPad 2.