Sharing a time-sensitive update on a Vanderbilt icon
Dear Vanderbilt Community,
There are a few universal truths of student life at Vanderbilt University. Your scenic walk will likely include a construction viewing. It’s only true love if they bought you a Sweet Treat for Valentine’s Day. Squirrels will infiltrate your inner peace. And the smell of a warm Rand Cookie can fix almost anything.
We have news about that last one.
RIP: The original Rand Cookie
We have sad news to report about the original Rand Cookie, the myth, the legend. The facility that produces the dough is closing. After exhausting all options, Campus Dining is sad to share that the Vanderbilt community has to say goodbye to the Rand Cookie as it currently exists.
This situation is not a Campus Dining decision; it is the result of a supply issue, one we are all grieving.
Students love it, staff and faculty praise it, and alumni crave it. The Rand Cookie isn’t just a cookie; it’s a campus icon. It’s a comforting smell after a hard test, a sweet treat shared with friends, an excuse for alumni to reminisce, and so much more. So yes, it’s okay to feel sad, frustrated, or even mildly dramatic about it. Food and memories are intertwined, and this cookie holds a lot of sentiment for Commodores.
The last batch: March 2 – 6
Rather than a single goodbye, we’re dedicating all next week to the original Rand Cookie. The final batch will be served March 2-6. This is your chance to savor it, take a photo with it, share it with a friend, and properly honor the original Rand Cookie. Think of it as a farewell tour. A sweet one.
Vote for the next generation: March 17
Rest assured, The Rand Cookie isn’t going away completely. It’s evolving. Campus Dining is asking for help deciding which chocolate chip cookie will be the next to hold the Rand Cookie title.
Students can taste-test finalist cookies and vote to determine the next official Rand Cookie. This is a community decision, as it should be.
The details
Date: March 17
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Rand
Format: Drop by the Campus Dining table during lunch to taste-test and vote
Navigating change
We wanted to be transparent about this change and give the legacy of the original Rand Cookie the recognition it deserves. Campus traditions matter. The care behind them matters. And so does your voice in what comes next.
The campus community is invited to vote on the next Rand Cookie on March 17. Student representatives helped narrow down the selections to the finalists. Student leaders, including members of the Dining Advisory Board and Student Government, were invited to attend a confidential tasting on Thursday, February 26.
While we want to ensure the next cookie is student-selected, we don’t want to move too quickly. Next week, if you catch that familiar smell drifting through Rand, take a moment. Our teams will be savoring that sweet smell.
Sweet regards,
Vanderbilt Campus Dining