At first glance, the job of a university dining hall is simple: feed the students for three meals a day. That is true of Samford’s lone dining hall, the Caf, but that’s not all it offers. Samford Dining has put together Wellness Wednesdays to create community and engagement.
Typically, the Caf’s five TVs are playing ESPN or another news network. On Wednesdays, however, not only is the big projector screen down, but the audio is playing through the speakers and you can see a fan-favorite movie.
“Wellness Wednesdays were created with the student wellbeing in mind. College can get overwhelming, so we try to create a space in the Caf where students can stop for a few minutes, grab something small, and engage in an activity that reminds them to slow down,” said Jessica Seawright, marketing manager for Samford Dining. “The goal is to meet students where they are and make wellness feel easy, not like another obligation.”
The Caf will put together DIY crafts, grab-and-go items, painting activities or a midday movie. “It originally started as more of an ‘eat what you see’ experience, like serving ratatouille while playing ‘Ratatouille’,” said Seawright. “That concept ended up being such a hit that it kind of turned into a regular thing for us.”
Planning the events depends on how elaborate the event is. “Most of our bigger events are planned out by the semester, so we have a general roadmap ahead of time. But the smaller details usually come together a week or two before. That is when we figure out the fun stuff like food and what items are going to bring the most engagement,” said Seawright.
Freshman Drew Bradley frequently visits the Caf on Wednesdays. “I would say the movies in the Caf are something that I look forward to every Wednesday,” said Bradley. “It always helps me get through the middle of my week.”
Over the semester, the Caf has shown ‘Harry Potter’, ‘SpongeBob’, ‘Percy Jackson’, ‘Lilo and Stitch’ and more. Each screening with a table with snacks, drinks, desserts or meals to coincide with the movie.
“Engagement has been really strong, especially with anything interactive like DIY cookie decorating. Students are way more likely to stop when there is something they can actually do, not just grab and go,” said Seawright. “One of my favorite things is hearing students say they plan their schedules around coming to Wellness Wednesday. Knowing it is something they look forward to and that it can actually brighten their day is really rewarding.”
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