Benjamin Rizzo
Students quench their thirstBy: Ben Rizzo
On a hot sunny day in the Pierce College campus mall, a glass enclosed vending machine stands as a tribute to everlasting thirst. “Enjoy a refreshing drink,” the machine beckons as its robotic arm readies for motion across the stacks of neatly assorted liquids. “Choose selection,” it demands, noting the interior temperature reading of 35 degrees Fahrenheit. There are so many choices yet just one selection. Of all the liquid refreshments in the world, if you had to pick one, just one, which one would it be?In a recent survey, 100 Pierce students were asked what their favorite non-alcoholic beverage was. Answers ranged anywhere from the ordinary concoction of iced tea, to the peculiar mixture of Minute Maid Tropical Punch. Nearly half (43 percent) of those surveyed chose water as their preferred means of refueling. Meanwhile, another 23 percent provided some more intriguing alternatives. “Orange Mango Motion Naked Juice,” said Christina Escobar. “It tastes like a Mango-A-Go-Go from Jamba Juice.” “Mountain Dew Game Fuel,” said Vince Mano. “I drank that stuff and I was up for like two days.” When asked if he was concerned about any of the side effects of drinking such a beverage Mano said, “If the drink tastes good, I’ll drink it-that’s my motto.” Some other students, such as Omar Flores, also seek a beverage’s energizing capabilities. Flores routinely indulges in a Monster, cracking one open after his track meets and soccer games, in hopes that it might help see him through his nine hour shift at Ralphs supermarket. There are even students who look to their drink for assistance in hindering infectious diseases. Kombuchi tea, as one student explains, is some form of fermented mushroom tea known for its anti-biotic effects on the body. The tea is sold at Whole Foods, so any concerns that this student is hallucinating on campus can be put to ease. “Acai juice,” said one art history student. “It’s like this berry from Brazil that has more antioxidants than blueberries or cranberries. It grows off trees that look like palm trees. It’s very good.” Then there are those who take pleasure in some of the more traditional options. “Coke,” exclaims one exuberant student as she raises her can to the sky, undoubtedly immersed in a caffeinated rush. “Any diet soda,” said Izabell Karaghossian. “It’s guilt free but still gives me that sugar rush somehow.” Arizona’s colorful assortment of teas and juices came in third among students, bringing in a respectable 12 percent of those surveyed. Coffee brought up the rear, tallying 6 percent. As night falls on campus, the glass enclosed plethora of canned and bottled beverages is a fragment of its former self. A mere four bottles of water remain on its depleted shelves. Triumphant, the machine rests, and prepares for its next day of class at Pierce College.
*Drink of choice results of 100 students surveyed.
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