Ok, so there’s no more Edge. But let’s back up for a second. Can we already say whether it’s a horrible thing or not? I mean, most of us have only been here for a little over a week. Admittedly, I was on the band wagon with most other non-first-year Colgate students. I was really looking forward to slumming it to the Edge on Saturday mornings, just a short stroll from my home in Parke. However, my roommates and I decided to venture into the unknown territory of The Cutting Edge Bistro to see exactly what we were complaining about. By now, I’ve seen and heard many different play-by-plays on what a dinner at the new Edge looks like so I’ll spare you all of the specifics. However, I’d like to point out a couple of things that may have been overlooked.

The Cutting Edge Bistro is an experimental site for the people involved in placing and managing it here on campus. This means that, as students, we have a lot of power. Every time I have eaten there, I’ve been repeatedly asked how everything was, how we feel about the food, the wait staff, etc. Suggestions that were written down were almost immediately addressed. For example, my roommates and I suggested having a fresh fruit option for dessert. Within five minutes of writing that down, we had a cup of fresh fruit on our table, while hearing apologies for the limited selection of fruit that night, and promises to get it on the menu. Beyond that, the students here at Colgate have the opportunity to comment on, and change, anything from reservations, waiting and hours, online systems, and even timing in between courses. We could dictate much of how future projects will be run.

For those of us who appreciate the occasional home-cooked meal, the new Edge is a good outlet. The difference between having excellent food prepared for you and not by you is immense. If that isn’t reason enough, 23 dollars worth of food on one meal swipe is not that bad; it’s definitely not something we’ll be getting in the Coop any time soon. To be honest, I have no idea whether you will like the new Edge or not, but I certainly suggest not writing it off just yet. Even though most of us (including myself) would love some PJ breakfasts on the weekend, the new Edge is definitely putting out an admirable effort to fulfill its purpose as an alternate dining option here on campus.

Of course there are some qualms about this new Edge. Last year the Coop had a very visible crowd problem. Eventually, appropriate steps were taken to fix this problem in the form of barriers and line markers. Before displacing a number of students for breakfast and lunch this year by changing the dining philosophy at the Edge, why wasn’t this crowd issue considered? Last week, a line for lunch extended out of Frank ending in front of Stillman. In addition, lines to the C-store at the Coop are becoming a customary experience. If we had a crowd problem last year, surely the overcrowding now should have been expected. So, where are the changes? Justifiably so, I was pretty embarrassed last week when I saw a tour come into the Coop and watched prospective students and their parents battle their way through the mass of students in an attempt to get a peek at the esteemed “ski-lodge” atmosphere. Unfortunately, the Coop lived up to that reputation, looking like the chaotic, jam-packed ski cafeterias I’ve experienced in the past.

The Colgate administration is clearly capable of creating a beautiful atmosphere, so why let this continue? If there is a solution to relieve the overcrowding in the works, the student body has no idea as to what it is. Where is the response from the administration? Given that the student body was generally unaware of any change with the Edge until arriving on campus, there needs to at least be someone telling us as students what the new plan will be, if there even is a plan.

The Edge is awesome, with great food, an extremely concerned staff and that nice “home cooked feel.” Before you judge the Edge based on the logistical problems it has caused, at least give it a try. Nevertheless, the problems it is causing on campus are something that must be addressed. The Edge is not the problem. The lack of accompanying measures taken to deal with the repercussions of the change is where the issue lies. The ball is in the administration’s court. The question is, what’s their next move?