Freshmen, friends bond over pasta passion

It is the evening of Oct. 19. The sun has set, and the first floor of Bergsaker Hall transforms from its typical stretch of student rooms into a celebration of cooking. Cutlery clatters, cooking pots bubble with water and the sound of rich laughter fills the floor as students gather in the kitchen for “Augie Noodles.”

What started during the first week of fall semester as a simple need for better noodles has developed into a tradition that connects students from all parts of the campus.

The inception of Augie Noodles began with a spark of creativity — and a group objection to the noodles that were being served in the school’s dining hall — from a group of five freshmen: Amelia Lyon, Bristol Karr, Abbie McMahon, Luxie Jasinski and Margaret Vogel.

“The noodles in the dining hall tasted like absolutely nothing,” Lyon said. “It surprised us all because even with the sauce they served, it tasted so bland. This is what made us decide we could definitely do better.”

The group — some who knew each other from high school, others who met during Welcome Week — quickly put the idea to practice.

“We made a whole extra box of noodles and realized we had to get rid of them somehow. So we walked around Berg banging on a pot, asking people if they would like our noodles, even though they had no sauce,” Lyon said. “Miraculously, our first three students accepted our noodles and enjoyed them. We realized after this that we could start a tradition.”

From that first spirited night, Augie Noodles built a base. Currently, the students experiment with a new type of noodle each time they come together.

“We have made penne, bow tie and fettuccine,” Lyon said. “We want to make all the types of noodles by the end of the school year.”

The group is fluid in nature, with meetings not set for a specific day but generally taking place over the weekend. News of the gatherings is also shared via their Instagram account, @Augie_noodles, with the vibe of each picture showing the type of noodle and one or more people happily presenting it for the camera.

While the noodles were originally served plain, that changed as the group became more known around campus.

“Unfortunately, our first couple of nights, we saved the sauce for just the five of us because we didn’t have enough,” Lyon said. “But when we saw how many people followed our page, we decided to make sure everyone could have sauce.”

The growing popularity of the group changed how each of the five founders of Augie Noodles contributed to the gatherings.

“One of the five of us, Bristol, makes the trip to Walmart to acquire the noodles and the sauce, and we all decide which noodles to make for the night,” Lyon said. “Other times we take a poll on Instagram and ask our loyal followers what noodle they would prefer.”

Now, Augie Noodles is developing into a channel to create bonds and establish connections that expand beyond Bergsaker Hall.

“Some people will just stop by, and we’ll be like, ‘Hey, you want noodles?’” Vogel said of how simple it’s become to make pasta-loving friends. “And they’ll be like, ‘Sure.’”

The desire to make a better serving of noodles has blossomed into a cross-campus gathering that brings students together who have the same interest in better quality food — or simply an interest in making friends and spending time with one another.

“We kind of set it up as like a family-style dinner, and a few other people came and were like, ‘Can we eat dinner with you?’” Vogel said. “And then we talked and got to know them, and it was fun, so now we’re friends with those people.”

For many of the attendees, the gatherings have become a highlight of the week. Sophomore Ayden Calvert, one of the first few participants, described it as more than just a meal.

“I’m good friends with the group that does Augie Noodles, and they have always been great,” Calvert said. “They get all of the stuff together to make the noodles, do an amazing job making them, and then they make bread and sauce to offer as well. After everything is made, they invite everyone over to enjoy a nice meal and play board games. It is an amazing time for fellowship and socializing.”

As the tradition continues to grow, the collective hopes their story motivates other students to bring in a spontaneous approach to life here on campus.

“Your Augie experience is what you make it out to be,” Lyon said. “It’s important to remember sometimes you just need to have a little fun. It turns out it’s a lot easier to start gatherings and meet new people than you would imagine, and they can make someone else’s day.”

Augie Noodles is not just about the culinary art of making pasta: It is about building a community and creating a space in which students feel welcome, united in their sense of togetherness as they go through the obstacles and triumphs that come with both attending university and being a part of something larger than themselves.