Touching every aspect of living together in community

Food is inextricably woven through individual lives, as well as relationships to others and to nature. So Bates values — commitment to environmental sustainability, social responsibility and intellectual vigor, to name a few — naturally influence the College's approach to food.

The New Commons — the environmentally friendly new home for Bates' long and cherished tradition of gathering the campus community under one roof for meals — is "Campus Central."

The facility's marketplace-style "servery" allows diners to select from a variety of stations where food is prepared as they watch.

Menu choices range from vegan-vegetarian to brick-oven pizza to comfort foods served at the innovative "Euro-Station."

Bates Dining Services works with Maine food producers to seek out the healthiest foods that are organic, natural, farm-fresh or local.

Bates is a member of the Green Restaurant Association, buys from Farm Fresh Initiative and diverts over half of its solid waste from the local landfill through a comprehensive management system.

Next: Activities & recreation