On the Art And Science of Scavenging For Lunch in the Weisner Building

On the Art and Science of Scavenging For Lunch
In the Weisner Building
(for an expert audience)

Robert Burke, Synthetic Characters Group
September 10, 1999
(updated and posted to the web October 6, 1999)

Abstract

This paper examines the plight of scavangers who seek their lunch at the Media Lab, comparing the results with two control approaches. We conclude that there is no free lunch.

I: Introduction

Life as a Graduate Student at the Media Lab presents a perpetual economic challenge. As most students must rely on their monthly stipend to cover accommodations, food and other living and travel expenses, the need to develop an expedient and economically sound strategy for procuring lunchtime nourishment is of paramount importance. Graduate students who currently inhabit the room known as "The Pond" on the third floor of the Lab are adamant that, most days of the week, "food suddenly appears" in the kitchen area adjoining their workspace [Tomlinson 1999].

A week-long study, however, suggests that there is no clear solution to the lunch issue that maximizes both efficiency and cost effectiveness. In this paper, the scavanger method is contrasted with two control approaches to reveal scavenging's strengths and weaknesses.

II: Background

We assume that the average grad student will seek lunch in the Weisner Building six out of every seven days each week. It has been suggested to the author that this constitutes a relatively low estimate.

We present two alternatives to scavenging:

Local "fast food." A variety of take-out and eat-in commercial food venues exist within walking distance of the Lab. "Au Bon Pain" is a five-minute walk from the door of the Weisner Building, and a Kebab Truck is found at the other end of the so-called Infinite Corridor. These venues charge, on average, in excess of $5.⁰⁰US for a lunch combo featuring a drink and a sandwich (or equivalent). See Table 1 below for an outline of monthly costs.

Norwegian-style lunch. While visiting Scandinavia this summer, the author discovered the "Bread and Cheese technique," whereby a slicer is used to produce a sandwich consisting of a single slice of cheese on a piece of bread. Costs associated with the materials necessary to produce this quality of lunch average $18.⁰⁰US/month, as outlined in Table 2 below.

Average cost of lunch	$5.⁰⁰ US	Average cost of bread (see note below)	$2.⁰⁰ per loaf x 4 loaves = $8.⁰⁰ US
		Average cost of cheese	$5.⁰⁰ per block x 2 blocks = $10.⁰⁰ US
Average total monthly cost:	$120.⁰⁰ US	Average total monthly cost:	$18.⁰⁰ US

Table 1: Cost analysis of "Fast Food" Control approach		Table 2: Cost analysis of "Norwegian-style" Control approach

Note: Bread and cheese costs were obtained by the author at the Star Market in Cambridge, MA.
The cost of the cheese slicer is considered negligible when amortized over its average lifespan [Holmen 1999].

III: Experimental Results

During a six-day period at the Media Lab in early September of 1999, lunch "appeared" on four separate occasions at approximately noon in the kitchen adjoining The Pond. The content of the free lunches varied from Mexican fajhitas to a hearty Italian lasagna with meat sauce. Total costs incurred on the other two days when food did not appear were less than $10.⁰⁰US. Over a four-week period, total costs would thus be $40.⁰⁰US.

IV: Conclusions and Future Research

These results indicate that scavenging for food in the Weisner Building provides an acceptable tradeoff between efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Forty dollars per month represents less than four percent of the stipend of a Media Lab graduate student. However, this research neglects the social implications of the various schemes considered, and their potential long-term economic impact on the grad student. Moreover, the sample size used was ludicrously small. Research that pertains to the legitimacy of this research might thus prove beneficial.

What these results clearly indicate is that, in the end, even for scavengers there is no free lunch.

References

1. William Tomlinson, in an interview, 5 Sep, 1999.
2. Tone Merethe Holmen, via e-mail, 6 Oct, 1999.