The Oberlin Review \\ Perspectives

Soul Food...

Do most Oberlin students even know what collard greens and hamhocks are? We asked folks what they think of a new Soul Food restaurant replacing the traditonal Campus Restaurant.

"Soul food:" Though this traditional African-American fare has long been popular in the South, the term itself is relatively new (circa 1960). The expression "soul food" is thought to have derived from the cultural spirit and soul-satisfying flavors of black-American food. Some of the dishes commonly thought of as soul food include ham hocks, grits, chitterlings, black-eyed peas and collard greens.

Sean Wesolowski is a college junior.

I feel a soul food restaurant would find a crowd. It may not be as popular among the faculty as it would be among the students (but neither is the Feve or Annie's). I still think the Campus Restaurant will remain more popular among town residents than with the students, but it will help add diversity to the restaurant scene in town.

Michael McGinnis is a college junior:

I don't go to Campus Restaurant that much, so a soul food restaurant wouldn't be a bad idea, just as long as they don't change the atmosphere too much.

Carrie Yarber works at the Co-op Bookstore:

I'm thrilled. It's long overdue. I'm going to tell everyone I know to go there. But I'm going to try it first. It depends on who's cooking the food and whether or not it's real soul food. It's a start. We had another soul food restaurant down by McDonald's and they did good business. I don't know what happened to them. This restaurant is long overdue.

Rebecca Tuch is a college first-year:

I've no preference, But if it will make people happy, I'm all for it.

Jessica Yazbek is a college first-year:

I think I'd probably like the Campus Restaurant better, because I'm a vegetarian.

Helen Mack is an employee at Gibsons:

It's gonna be all right. It's something different. They're friendly. I'll keep going there. I've been going there for 20 something years. By stressing soul food, he'll bring out-of-towners.

Eleanor Gillers is a college sophomore:

I think it depends on the quality of the restaurant. If it's good, it's good.

Jesse Mausner is a college junior:

I don't see anything wrong with it. Campus Restaurant is not that great anyway.

Canaan Silberberg is a college junior:

I like the Campus Restaurant. I don't go there on a regular basis, but I like the atmosphere and I'm unsure of what to expect from this place.

Teri Schimert is a college sophomore:

If the food is good and cheap at this new place, then I don't have a problem, but the Campus Restaurant is good.

Charlotte Baker works at Subway Sandwich shop:

I used to have my own soul food restaurant. It was right up there where McDonald's is now. Yeah, we had people coming from as far as Parma. We did well until my husband got sick. Our restaurant delivered food. We had students from all races coming there. Hopefully, the new restaurant will do well. My brother used to own Campus Restaurant.

Kim McGlynn is a college first-year:

I think it's a good thing. There's not much variety in dining at Oberlin. Most of what you have in Campus Restaurant you can get elsewhere.

Anthony Gilbert is a college first-year:

I'm all for soul food. Soul food is my middle name.

Ian Pritchard is a college junior:

I think it's great. The Campus Restaurant wasn't the greatest anyway. It's good that it was cheap. But it wasn't that great.

Mike Wallerstein is a college sophomore:

Anything to replace the Campus Restaurant. I like the idea of a soul food restaurant.

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