By: Emily Costantino, News Editor
Charlie’s Coffeehouse will not be allowed to resume food production, according to a meeting held on Feb. 27.
The Student Government Association (SGA), Office of Leadership and Engagement (OLE) and Student Life came together to host the meeting following the creation of an online petition aiming to save Charlie’s. This petition was spread heavily among students through social media and gathered around 600 signatures. However, it seems this petition will not bring back the Charlie’s Coffeehouse that students remember from previous years.
“Charlie’s is not closed, but the ability to engage in producing food and serving food that is stored in facilities in Charlie’s cannot continue,” clarified Francy Magee, Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students.
For now, Charlie’s will operate as a programming space where clubs or student organizations can host events and fundraisers. The administrators present expressed hope to expand Charlie’s influence on campus by hosting “coffeehouse type programming.” This could take the form of open mic nights or poetry and music events. Additionally, Director of Leadership and Engagement Frank Crofchick announced that he will soon be hiring a student intern to handle these programs.
According to the faculty and staff present at the meeting, it is “completely out of the question” for food production to continue at Charlie’s.
The common complaint among students was a lack of communication between administration and the student body. One former Charlie’s employee even asked when the closure was decided upon, claiming that Charlie’s employees were told in October that there was a possibility of reopening.
The primary issue cited was cleanliness that almost led to a failed health inspection in summer 2023. Crofchick, who was present for said health inspection, claimed that Charlie’s was full of broken bottles, expired products, mold and fruit flies as a result of open products.
“Things became crystal clear over the summer when the health inspector came,” explained Magee. “It became really evident how bad the problem had become.”
Additionally, the loss of Charlie’s former advisor, Mary Markle, left the OLE without anyone to run the coffeehouse.
“We did talk to Aramark about whether they could take over supervision,” said Magee. However, they ultimately refused.
Student attendees described the loss of Charlie’s as a “loss of community.” Thus, leading the meeting to veer towards solutions to this problem. Students asked whether beverage services could be offered at Benny’s or perhaps installing milkshake machines in Charlie’s.
Overall, the question comes down to funding. Each year, Charlie’s received about $7,000 from advancement to fund its production, which would not be enough to install milkshake machines. Regardless, faculty and staff at the meeting promised to explore some of the proposed ideas, hoping to come to a solution that would satisfy concerned students.
“We need to come to an agreement together of how we want Charlie’s to proceed,” said Magee.
