InstaGarvey – The Lovers, The Haters, and Desserts

Photo by Tim McGuire

By Tim McGuire

Posting food to Instagram was a trend of the past, but it’s slowly reviving in an unlikely way. Three different Instagram accounts related to Garvey Hall, Catholic University’s dining hall, have been on the rise. The dining hall has found an enemy in @garveyhallhater, a supporter in @garveyhallworshipper, and a sweet treat critic in @garveydesserttable. Students making accounts related to campus activities and happenings are nothing new, and Garvey’s recent controversial decisions may be a key factor in the creation of these accounts. 

Garvey Hall’s ban on taking food outside the building last month, alongside a stricter entrance system, left many students feeling cheated with many vocalizing their frustration. As conversation of the controversy brewed, it spread to other apps, namely Instagram. It was on October 1st that @garveyhallhater created their account and posted a picture, captioning it, “I hate Garvey hall cuz they charge us a billion dollars for raw chicken.😡” On the same exact day however, @garveyhallworshipper started their own account, seemingly in response to the hate account, and a rivalry was born. 

When looking through both accounts, you may sometimes see the opposing account in their counterpart’s comment section. For example, on @garveyhallworshipper’s very first post, which was a simple picture of Garvey Hall, @garveyhallhater simply comments, “Garvey sucks.” Likewise, on @garveyhallhater’s first post, you can find a comment from @garveyhallworshipper that reads, “Wish instagram had dislikes.” The pair also occasionally banter through story posts, screenshotting, and adding their own rebuttals. However, just like the light-hearted nature of these accounts, the arguments are also light-hearted, as evidenced by the accounts following each other.

While the two accounts’ public battle of wits have helped them grow, it has also brought attention to a third unrelated account. @garveydesserttable made their first post a few days before @garveyhallhater and @garveyhallworshipper on September 29th, reviewing a slice of blueberry vanilla cake and a bowl of chocolate ice cream. Since then, they’ve reviewed a few other desserts offered, including brownies, cakes, and something they didn’t even know, stating, “?: 4.5/10 Not sure what it is but it’s okay.” As of October 19th, the highest rated food is a chocolate croissant with an 11/10 and the lowest rated food is a churro with a 0/10. Even though the critic hasn’t officially taken a side, @garveyhallhater left a comment on their very negative churro review, agreeing and labeling it “Deplorable.”

As of now, no one on campus has stated that they run one of these three accounts, but the situation is undeniably unique: three strangers on campus, unknowingly connected by their varying opinions of Garvey Hall. Whether the world of InstaGarvey grows or falls off, it will serve as a memorable snapshot of the dining hall’s relationship with its students.