By Emily Larkin, Managing and Online Editor
“And this is Scooter’s, our resident coffeehouse on campus. It’s not just a place where you can get drinks like coffee, tea and smoothies or food like pizza, wraps and sandwiches; it’s also where you can hangout with friends on a few comfy couches and chairs. You would be surprised how many naps I’ve taken on that couch.” I utter these words about Scooter’s Coffeehouse every time I give a tour of Newman’s campus.
Since and before the announcement that Scooter’s is going to be closing was revealed, I have gone through multiple stages of strong emotions.
All three years I have attended Newman, rumors have always been swirling about the closing of Scooter’s, so by the time any sort of official announcement was released, I was in denial. I said to myself, “They can’t shut down the place I spent every morning of my freshman year sitting in bonding with my coffee-loving roommate. They can’t shut down the place I spent so much time in writing Vantage articles and doing some of my best people watching. They can’t shut down my chai tea latte hot spot. They can’t shut down my premiere napping spot on campus; they just can’t.”
When we got the confirmation that Scooter’s was really shutting down for good, I sat in the Vantage meeting stunned. Quickly, my shock turned to anger. All I could think about was how this little coffee shop in the heart of campus has been instrumental in my Newman experience. My highlights from the first time I visited campus featured the incredible acoustics in the atrium and the pumpkin spice lattes that my mom and I indulged in at none other than Scooter’s.
With the reflection on my time at Newman through the lens of Scooter’s, I was genuinely sad. No longer will I be able to fulfill my pre-performance tradition of getting a hot chocolate with extra whip. No longer will I be able to grab food at Scooter’s so I actually have a chance to eat lunch for a change. No longer will Scooter’s be my break from the everyday stresses of life.
I think what saddens me the most is that the freshman of the fall of 2019 will have no idea of the impact that Scooter’s has had on the social dynamic at Newman University. They’ll see the pictures of students hanging out in Scooter’s in the Admissions Welcome Center and ask, “What’s that? Why have I never seen that coffee shop before?”
Though I understand that this may be necessary to remedy some of the university’s financial issues, for me, Scooters will always hold a special place in my heart for how it has helped me build my degree of difference.
I love you a latte, Scooter’s; keep it cool.
PHOTO: Courtesy photo, University Relations
