Tower Watch — Laney and College of Alameda work to improve cafeteria food safety

by Eva Hannan

Alameda College’s closed cafeteria, The Cougar’s Den, forces students to find food off-campus, often for a less affordable price in the nearby shopping center. (photos by Robert Hinton)

The cafeteria at College of Alameda, the Cougar’s Den, closed at the end of the Spring 2018 semester and has not re-opened. Students at the college are limited to vending machines for their choices of food on-campus, and many choose to go to a shopping center nearby for meals. The Den closed after it received a “D” grade from health inspectors, due to uncleanliness and malfunctioning equipment. ASCOA Vice President Katherine O’Brien said they hope to have a contract with a new company soon, but some equipment and flooring must be replaced before the cafeteria is operable. They hope to have the cafeteria open by March 2019.