Few forces on this planet are as powerful as the hunger college students feel while studying late at night. So Pomona’s most prized perk just might be the free food students get five nights a week from 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Frary Dining Hall.

Late-night hunger meets its match at Frary's "Snack" hour.

Known simply as “Snack,” this late-night repast only dates back a decade, but it already has become an important part of student life. Dean of Students Ann Quinley initiated this night-owl nosh in response to a student’s suggestion, and the meal went over big. “I just love it,” says Brian Hardesty ’07.

Food choices vary night to night, ranging from nachos to corndogs, from meatballs to muffins. Of course, some offerings are more popular than others. “They put down the pizza and it’s gone,” says Hardesty.

The Sunday through Thursday ritual is a chance to socialize and perhaps procrastinate just a tad on that research paper. Coffee fuels students who plan to keep studying into the wee morning hours. Bands play on occasion and The Student Life newspaper conducts a weekly survey at Snack, asking off-the-wall questions such as “What movie character does Dick Cheney remind you of the most?”

Perhaps Snack is a little too popular. The food is served in Frary on the north end of campus, where juniors and seniors are concentrated. In recent years residents of south campus have campaigned in student elections to bring Snack to their end of campus.

The good news is that it’s only a five-minute walk from south campus to Frary, and a little exercise might not be a bad idea for everyone, north or south, after gobbling down all that food.