Sacramento has reached the unpredictable time of the year as we transition from winter to spring. The weather has bounced between gloomy, cloudy days with rain and sunny, breezy warm days all within the span of a couple days. As we enter April, the weather will soon make the drastic shift to sunshine and blooming flowers, which will lead to the anxious anticipation of scorching summers in Sacramento. A time that a majority of the population will be taking cover into buildings with A/C, drinking cold beverages to keep themselves hydrated. 

Unfortunately for people visiting the American River College Campus, beverage selections during the beginning of a warm season are limited all around campus with vending machines being low in stock or sold out completely. 

The vending machines in the hall of the Science Building have limited selections, and the ones outside the swimming pool are either sold out, limited or dispense a flavor different from the flavor on the button’s label.

“I hit the grape flavor on the gatorade machine, but it dispensed a lime flavor,” said Presley Rogers, a visitor watching a recent ARC softball game. 

However, these circumstances will only worsen while the heat becomes more prominent.  

“We are in the process of procuring a new vending machine vendor that will be better, and more consistently, stock the machines,” said Kaitlyn Collignon, ARC public information officer, “I believe the current contract will end sometime this summer.”

Other vending machines on campus, such as in the gymnasium next to the soccer field or near the Athletic Department will accept card payments. However, once the selection is made, the machine will say “Sold Out” and void the payment. 

The most reliable vending machines on campus are the ones inside the gymnasium, outside of the basketball court and inside the student center. Those machines have the most stock and take either form of payment cash or card. 

Follow Abby Harless on Instagram @the_psychedelic_brunette.