4 minute read
The ʻSipʼ offers more than lattés
The on-campus cafe provides a convenient and upbeat spot with free Wi-Fi for all
James Hermon, Coburn Palmer / Roundup
It’s a bright blazing hot autumn day, throngs of students shuffle to and from class.
It is a day just like any other at Pierce College.
There are classes to go to and homework to be done. Seeking shelter from the sun many students and teachers alike seek out the “Sip”.
The Freudian Sip, the on-campus coffee house located next to the bookstore, has become the official hangout spot for many students and teachers alike due to its centralized location, coffee and tasty treats.
Due to the Sip’s popularity, there are plans in the making to have the coffee shop have an extension.
“In a couple years we are looking forward to have a satellite Sip on the other side of campus,” said Hogikyan.
Many people find the Freudian Sip a great place to meet and talk over a latte.
Others are more interested in hanging out with friends and find the coffee shop a convenient hangout spot.
“I often come to the Sip because it’s very close to the Special Services Office,” said Jessica Quintana, a 20-year-old child development major.
The outside patio area offers customers a place to sit and talk with friends.
“It’s a chill spot,” said freshman Hasan Pressley. “We come here every day after class.”
The Sip doesn’t just offer opportunities to sit and chat with friends while grabbing a cup of coffee and snack.
There is pop music streaming from the speakers, a four-person table with twice as many chairs surrounding it, students studying, and professors finishing off the last of their caffeine before rushing to their next class.
Once inside, the air-conditioned shop greets its customers first.
To the left of the main entrance is a wall lined with computers. Facebook and Google are often dominating the screens.
The Sip is staffed with friendly student workers who are more than willing to engage in a friendly conversation as an order is being placed. More than half of the Freudian Sip, bookstore and Copy Tech employees are Pierce students.
“I love working at the Sip,” said Nader Suleiman, a 23-year-old biology major and student employee. “I’ve been here since the beginning of the semester and I try to get as many hours as possible.”
Grigor Hogikyan is the Assistant Bookstore Manager, and one of his job descriptions is to oversee the Sip.
“About eight out of ten of our employees are student workers, during fall and spring semesters,” said Hogikyan. “The busiest part of the day is from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In addition to the free internet access and WiFi, the main reason students generally like to hangout here is because of how convenient it is.”
Whether in the morning, afternoon or evening, the Sip is open and students will be found pouring over their books to study.
Some students would rather study at the Sip than in the library or at their home.
“When it comes to midterms or finals, if I leave campus, I don’t come back,” said Farhad Majidi, a sophomore.
Other students are drawn to the café for the food and prefer it to the cafeteria or off-campus restaurants.
“I prefer to come to the Sip rather than the country café,” said Amanda Gonzalez a 24 -year-old geology major.
The Sip offers a wide variety of dishes including pizza, croissants, fruit bowls and sandwiches.
“It’s a convenient place to be,” said Garbriela Pinzon, a community coach who works at the Sip when at Pierce College.
“It’s a cool environment.”
