Cola Wars and Battling Vending Machines

There has been a longtime rivalry between Coca-Cola and Pepsi products: Pepsi, the sweeter option, or Coke, the more carbonated one. For me, there is definitely a correct side of history to be on.

I grew up drinking Coca-Cola products and have always found Pepsi too sweet. Webster, like other colleges in the St. Louis area, is a Pepsi campus … sadly – emphasis on the sad.

While no soda in and of itself is healthy, Coke is the “healthier” of the two, having less sugar, calories and caffeine than Pepsi. And, let’s face it, it’s also tastier. There’s a reason why Coca-Cola, with its iconic white logo on the red can, is one of the most recognizable brands in the world. In 2025, it held the dominant 19% share of the U.S. soda market.

Along with the sad news of Webster being a Pepsi campus, all soda fountain machines were removed last summer, leaving students to buy bottled products, which are more costly as they cannot be refilled. Fountain drinks were so much more affordable and accessible. Without them, students have to purchase bottles, as opposed to the cups we had with the fountain drinks, increasing plastic waste. Plus, with fountain drinks available, I controlled what I wanted and how much I wanted.

I would also appreciate being able to choose a restaurant I already know with comforting food, without having to find new go-to orders at each restaurant.

When you are looking at colleges, one of the most important things to look at is the food – though when I was looking at Webster to possibly be my future, raw chicken at Marletto’s made headlines. Nonetheless, food is essential to a great college experience.

Most local universities have some chain restaurants on campus to give students something familiar. At Saint Louis University, Washington University, University of Missouri and Lindenwood University, they offer everything from Starbucks, Qdoba, Subway, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Panera, Panda Express and Chick-fil-A right on their campuses.

Webster has no national chain restaurants.

The closest we have is the “We Proudly Serve Starbucks” in the library, but even that isn’t a “real” Starbucks, as fabulous as it is. Granted, Webster is a much smaller university, but can’t we have an easy, cheap fast-food place located right on our campus? Or at least a real Starbucks?

With Subway and Einstein Bros. Bagels being so close in Webster Groves, I have craved their menus, yet haven’t had the motivation to walk down Big Bend Boulevard. Then, I end up consuming the very scrumptious sushi from the University Center for the fifth time in a week.

Even our vending machines are lacking – and many of them don’t even work most of the time. They either tell you “Cards Offline by Vendor” on the card reader or “X Homing Failure” on the screen above it, or just steal your money with no fun drink in return. Maybe, once in a blue moon, they will actually give you the product you wanted all along. If we kept up speedy maintenance – and had Coca-Cola products stocked in them at all times – it would be a win-win for this campus.

While other universities have full meals in their vending machines, the most I’ve seen in ours are error messages for over an entire week. Having something that could work as a full meal, easy to warm up in the microwave in less than five minutes would make every Webster student’s life easier.

Other universities are showing Webster up in most ways regarding dining. We’ve got to catch up somehow … even if it’s just a simple soda switch.