Food goes beyond what's being served at The Market Place and Cooler. It is something that can be analyzed culturally, studied scientifically, or understood as a social justice issue. At Occidental, students and faculty alike are working to examine the many facets of food. From a student run community garden to research on flavor and how the human mind processes it, the Food Studies Cluster at Occidental seeks to critically examine our relationship with food. While the classroom provides many opportunities for students to learn and formulate their ideas on the importance of food with a variety of perspectives, a number of initiatives have also been pursued by students with the guidance of faculty advisors. Food related events seak to further inspire students, with speakers like Eric Schlosser and Johnathan Gold giving lectures on campus, as well other programs, such as Oxy Iron Chef and Food Justice Month.