As final exams week began, students gathered on campus for one last bit of relaxation before they faced grueling hours of studying and the onslaught of intense tests. Hundreds of students crowded AU’s Marketplace on December 11 for the biennial Midnight Breakfast, sponsored by Creative Dining Services. The dining room was packed with chattering students letting off some steam from the pressure the week, even as their completely free piping-hot meals of eggs, sausage, French toast, and potatoes steamed before them. Doors opened at 11:00 p.m., and some students lingered well past the 12:00 a.m. closing time.

Many of the regular food service workers had the night off, and replacing them were AU’s faculty staff—from R.D.s to nurses to deans. “It’s just fun to see the students and interact with them in an informal way, where I get to serve them,” noted AU’s Dean of Students, Brent Baker. All the servers that night volunteered their midnight hours to spend it with the students. “It’s just cool to see who all comes out,” said Jason Varner, Dunn Hall R.D, as he paused for a moment from cleaning tables.

Will Holgate, director of Creative Dining Services at AU, said that the Midnight Breakfast is a relatively new tradition started in 2002. In the past, as many as 800 students have been fed during the one hour event. “It’s kind of a way to help students get started with the holiday season and finish the academic year. It’s also kind of a way for us to say, ‘Thank you…’” Holgate explained, “The students are really great here. We don’t have a lot of problems… We just want to wish them good luck on their exams.”

The student response has been positive, and it seems the tradition will continue for many years—particularly because of the good and free food. Sophomore Leah Brenner reasoned, “I was about to go back to my room to study. But then I remembered the food was free. So I said, ‘I’m not really hungry, but it’ll be good to take a break and talk.’” Dean Baker also agrees that the free food is a big factor in the huge turn out.

Slowly the crowd thinned and students returned to their dorms and apartments, some to sleep and some to study. As finals week continued, the Midnight Breakfast had once again helped ease some of the tension and calmed more than a few nerves with free food and fun.