Cafeteria Closure Crisis
![Cougar's Cave stands dark and empty on the first floor of the Student Services Center building.](https://icemediamcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Untitled-design-3.jpg)
Some students told ICE TV they were mad about the closure and the lack of communication about the closure from the college.
![Connecticut Foodshare donates meals to the Cougar Pantry year-round.](https://icemediamcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/53424134896_f5fb0a784d_h.jpg)
The Cougar Pantry – which is free for anyone on campus to use – stepped in with heat and eat meals purchased with donations from The Manchester Community College Foundation and the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges Union, or the 4C’s. Members of the campus community also donated macaroni and cheese and ramen noodle cups and a microwave to cook them. Two more microwaves were purchased by the Student Government Association. And Deb Simmons, who teaches music at CT State Community College Manchester, set up a cart with coffee, tea and hot dogs a few days a week near her office in the AST.
“I just had to do something,” she said.
T.J. Barber, Campus Associate Dean of Student Development, explained why the cafe closed in an interview with ICE Radio in February.