What do most college students do for dinner?

After trawling the HUB, a dozen students had this question served to them in a variety of ways.

Most respondents said they think those who cook are in the minority.

Due to a lack of time or ability, fellow classmates and roommates simply do not partake in the acts of braising, sautéing or stewing. Additionally, lots of people are on meal pans or live in dorms that don't have access to kitchens.

Yet, there is hope. Those interviewed provided insight into some stellar cookery that is going on behind closed kitchen doors.

Every day Karla Rivera (sophomore-premedicine) said she cooks classic Spanish dishes -- chicken and rice, for example -- which she learned at home the summer before college. As for other college kids, Rivera didn't think they invest themselves as much in meals.

"They probably have meal points or go to McDonalds," Rivera said. "Especially guys. The guys I know don't know how to cook at all."

Jeremiah Barjolo (junior-human development and family studies) comes from an upbringing where it's common for members of both sexes to cook.

"I'm originally from West Africa, so I cook mostly African stuff," Barjolo said. "Over there it is traditional for both men and women to cook -- it's something you learn at home."

Barjolo's menu includes cassava leaf soup or fufu soup, among other dishes. And, although he cooks regularly, Barjolo said he usually makes bigger meals that will last for a few days and reduce the number of times he cooks each week. However, the supplies necessary for this kind of cooking aren't present in State College, so Barjolo said he picks up a bunch of supplies at a local market in his hometown of Philadelphia.

In addition to shopping at Giant, Vivy Tran (sophomore-premedicine) goes to an Asian specialty market where she gets supplies for her predominantly Vietnamese dishes. Rice with broccoli and beef, and bitter melon cooked in broth, is among her repertoire.

"I cook because I enjoy it," Tran said. "Also I like to know what's going into what I'm eating because I'm very health conscious."

Jason Lee (graduate-electrical engineering) had an adverse view toward cooking. Although most of his housemates cook, he refrains.

"I know how to cook but I don't have time due to course work," Lee said. "Also I don't enjoy it."

Liesel Spangler (junior-international politics) said she makes simple stuff like salads, and her roommates will usually do the same thing.

"I would cook more, but partially it's busyness and partially it's laziness," Spangler said.

Many students who live on campus also do not cook, mostly because of meal plans and the lack of a kitchen.

Nicole Boucher (freshman-communications) fits this bill, but she said she and her future apartment-mates looks forward to cooking next year.

"We always talk about cooking when we get our apartment," Boucher said. "My mom and grandmom taught me how to cook. We cook a lot of Italian foods like spaghetti and meatballs."

Until next year Boucher said she and her friends will continue to subsist on food from the commons as well as Gumby's Pokey Sticks.

Allison Ambrose (freshman-animal bioscience) said she's usually studying and grabs dinner as an afterthought later at night. She, too, said that if she had an apartment she would try to cook, and would definitely not renew her meal plan.

Pat Rosenella (senior-telecommunications) lives in a kind of middle ground between cooking and going out. He said in his house there will occasionally be a communal cooking effort, but usually he fends for himself.

"Every now and then we'll have a spaghetti night or we'll all go out to a buffet," Rosenella said.

He said that people's cooking tendencies usually is contingent on where they live.

"On campus, most people go to the dining halls. It really depends on where you live. Off campus you learn to cook little things."