September 28, students could finally get their morning shots of energy from a popular coffee shop that existed in almost every major city in the United States: Starbucks. However, Starbucks was not the only option for the student body; Midnight Oil was still open and operating adjacent to campus. Many people wondered if the introduction of Starbucks to Searcy would have an effect on Midnight Oil's business. Senior Leila Shelburne, a barista at Midnight Oil, said she had not noticed any changes in business since Starbucks opened its doors. "We haven't had any decrease yet, but it's hard to say at this point," Shelburne said. "We had a really good week last week, but there are also a lot of extra people around campus [for Bison Days and family weekend]. The next couple of weeks will tell if we can expect changes long term. It helps that we have more inside space and an atmosphere more conducive to hanging around with friends for a long time." Junior Kris Monroe was a barista at Starbucks and said the opening weekend was extremely busy, reflecting the campuswide enthusiasm for the well-known coffee shop. "It is exciting to have another place to study and hang out at," Monroe said. "Starbucks is a big name literally known around the world, so to have one on campus is incredible." The shops each offered students different things. Starbucks was spacious, students could spread out and do homework, while the intimate seting at Midnight Oil fostered conversation. The warmth and community of Midnight Oil inspired a loyalty a brew of friendly competition among customers and employees. Shelburne was loyal to her place of employment and said she preferred the quality of Midnight Oil's drinks. "Our drip coffee h<;~s more variety and is locally roasted," Shelburne said. "Also, because our espresso machine isn't automated, our lattes are more artfully crafted and are generally higher-quality. This also means they may take a little lon!~er, but I'm willing to wait on quality." Monroe said he respected each of the venues for the certain qualities they had. "Wherever I'm at, I'm a huge fan of anything local, but the consistency of a Starbucks is almost always dependable," Monroe said. "Because everything about the company is so detailed and laid out the same for each store, the drink is the same everywhere, but there's nothing like a solid local establishment." According to popular opinion, the volume of students wanting quality drinks and places to spend time would keep both shops full. Sophomore Jasmine Pierce said that she liked Starbucks better than Midnight Oil but she thought that both establishments would continue to have a steady flow of business. "I don't think Starbucks will affect Midnight Oil because there are a lot of loyal Oil customers, but Starbucks does have advantage because it's new, and we can use DCB," Pierce said. Coffee shops were integral to Harding social and academic life, and the addition of Starbucks to campus expanded the number of venues where students could relax and spend time together. Alexis Hosticka "Students loved coming here [Midnight Oil] because it had an aesthetic like no other place on or near campus, J'' senior Hannah Hensley said. "The Kibo group had a beautiful vision for providing redemptive business to the community and transporting that love overseas to their work in Africa." Daily Life I 29
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