By Nicole Chan

As midterms come to an end, students prepare for Thanksgiving break. Check out our latest coverage!

UMD Students are unaware of the dining halls sick meal program 

By Clare Roth 

The University of Maryland dining hall’s sick meals service offers takeout meals to students feeling under the weather. The program, which is included in students’ meal plans, offers simple, allergy-conscious vegan and non-vegan meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The meals consist of scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, a bagel, and fruit for breakfast. Soup, grilled chicken, rice, vegetables, ginger ale and a cookie are served for lunch and dinner, according to the Dining Services’ website. 

To pick up a meal, students must go to the UMD Dining Services website and fill out the online form at least 30 minutes in advance before meal pickup, according to Bart Hipple, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Department of Dining Services.  Students must list the recipient’s name and the name of the person picking up the meal. The person picking up the meals can then meet the Dining Services staff at the front door of one of the dining halls to pick up their food.

Brydon Patschke, a sophomore chemistry major, recently picked up a sick meal for his girlfriend and commends the program.

“I think it’s honestly a necessity for every university to have. It’s a great program because the university is required to feed at least its on-campus residents, and if some students can’t get out of the dorm because they’re sick, I think it’s necessary for universities to have the program,” Patschke said.

How Terps are celebrating Thanksgiving break 

By Elizabeth Faragi 

As midterm season finally comes to an end, Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and Terps are excited to celebrate. In the midst of the busy lives of students, we tend to forget to take a breather, and Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to relax, remember what we’re grateful for and reflect on what is important to us. 

Terps like Emily Bontempo, a junior business major, eagerly anticipate Thanksgiving dinner and family traditions. 

“We have a lot of family come and make really good food,” Bontempo said. “My dad deep fries a turkey every year.”

However, for Bontempo, the best part of Thanksgiving are the sandwiches her family makes together the day after the holiday using all the leftovers. 

“We panini press stuffing into the bread,” Bontempo explained. “Then, we use the deep fried turkey and add lettuce, tomato, olives and peppers and dip it in homemade gravy.” 

Others celebrate Thanksgiving with their friends. Eleni Chacherone, a sophomore criminology major, is excited to celebrate a friendsgiving with her friends from home over break. 

“I’m going over to my friend’s house for friendsgiving,” Chacherone said. “Everyone had to sign up for a specific food. I’m bringing Greek potatoes and Tini’s mac and cheese. I’m most excited for that. It’s going to be amazing.” 

Above all, Thanksgiving is a holiday rooted in gratitude and giving thanks. Bontempo said she was grateful for her two dogs, Millie and Papi. She explained that Papi is a cavapoo and Millie wears pajamas. 

Thanksgiving is special to everyone. Whether you’re excited for the classic Thanksgiving dinner, to reunite with family and friends or to make post-Thanksgiving sandwiches, it is an important holiday that is unique to all students. As Thanksgiving break approaches for University of Maryland students and faculty, take the time to relax and express gratitude for the world around you. 

“Hype Hizzle” brings big energy and bigger smiles to Bagels n’ Grinds 

By Sophia Yodice

At Bagels n’ Grinds, manager Robert Hawkins, known as “Hype Hizzle,” makes ordering food fun. Famous for rhyming order numbers- shouting lines like “Time to dine for number nine”- Hawkins has become a staple of the University of Maryland experience through his viral positive hype videos.

Hawkins began his journey at the now-closed Bagel Place in 2015 before bringing his energy to Bagels n’ Grinds in 2021. What started as rhyming order numbers grew into motivational poetry, sorority shoutouts and eventually, a full-fledged social media presence. 

“I’m hyper, I’m all about positivity and good vibes, and just seeing how people take that, it still amazes me,” Hawkins said.

His energy extends past the counter, with students saying he makes their days better. Sydney Boyriven, a sophomore philosophy, politics and economics and communications major, mentioned that during her visit, Hawkins used his infamous “hype button.”

“I walked in here in a pretty good mood, but then he was rhyming while he was taking my order… and I was like, today’s going to be a great day,” Boyriven said.

Hawkins now fields about 50 daily requests for hype videos and dreams of a national Greek-life hype tour, continuing to spread his motto: “Believe the Hype.”

Featured Image: Student sits outside of McKeldin Library on a fall day. Photo by Ella Buchanan.