By Khaelle Harris

Plattsburgh is losing its only Einstein. 

SUNY Plattsburgh has made the not-so-genius decision to close the doors at the end of this semester on its only dedicated bagel shop, Einstein Bros. Bagels. 

“Genuinely I’m really upset, I love Einstein’s,” senior Giuseppina Gallicchio recently said in between bites of an Einstein Bros hash brown in Hawkins Hall. 

A devotee of the Texas Brisket Egg Sandwich, Gallicchio said Einstein Bros. is the most convenient food stop between her morning classes.

“I’m sad, it’s the best coffee and it’s the best study spot,” said senior Anushri Rao, who called rival coffee provider Starbucks “bland.”

In place of Einstein Bros, the university’s food partner Saxby’s will be opening a student-led “experiential learning platform” where undergraduates will manage, cook, and serve all food. 

But given that students can barely keep track of their own school assignments, skeptics wonder how they’ll keep track of customers’ food. 

“I don’t want students making my food,” said sophomore cyber security and journalism major Yasmine Alregabi. “I know the people I go to college with and some of them are not that bright, I’m sorry.”

Alregabi appreciates the study vibe in Einstein Bros — it’s not as quiet as the library, but also not as loud as the college center — as well as the hot chai latte made by that one guy who “makes a mean drink, dude.” 

“I rarely have anything messed up at Einstein,” she said. “Anywhere there’s a student behind the counter, it’s messed up! And they will not fix it!”

But junior PR major Evan Rando is cautiously optimistic. 

“How hard is it to make a f***ing bagel?” he asked. “How hard is it to put two pieces of bread in the toaster? I think we’re writing off Saxby’s before it even shows up.”

Emma Deo, a junior studying journalism and digital media production, knows how Saxby’s could win her over. 

“Saxbys could appeal to me if they have better hours,” she said. “I would like it to be open on the weekends. 

Fitness and wellness major Hassani St. John, who will be Student Association president next semester, is optimistic about the change, especially if it’s open on the weekends.

“If Einstein is closing, I hope that the place replacing it is up to par,” he said.

St. John might win a lot more votes if he simply brings back the school’s only Einstein.