A Delicious Tradition
It’s where F&M students of the 1980s could get a Poor Richard sandwich—cheese, lettuce and tomato on pita. Where students of the 1990s could get a massive helping of Ben’s Bread for just a couple bucks. And where students today enjoy baskets of chicken wings and onion rings.
More than three decades after opening in fall 1984, Ben's Underground still stands as F&M's student-run eatery and nightclub.
Generations of students have descended those familiar steps near the entrance to the Ben Franklin Dining Hall (now the Restaurants at Ben Franklin) on their way to concerts, Halloween parties, game nights, coffee hours, or just to hang out with friends into the wee hours of the morning.
It’s a shining example of the opportunities F&M students have to create programming and shape their own experiences on campus.
Ben’s underwent a significant renovation in recent years, including the installation of new kitchen equipment, booth-style seating, LED lighting and digital signage.
But as some things change, some don’t—they still deliver!
Get involved!
While the classroom remains central to providing the firm intellectual grounding necessary for post-graduate study or professional success, F&M also offers a wealth of opportunities — from African dance to water polo — for students to explore independently their favorite topics and share their knowledge, talents, and abilities.
See below for a list of the many different ways you can get involved on campus.
Expand Your Horizons!
Opening new horizons of learning and service is a principal part of preparing students to take responsibility for themselves, their communities, and our global society. More than three-quarters of F&M students participate in community service, contributing annually nearly 70,000 hours of volunteer effort on behalf of local nonprofit organizations.