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COLLEGE PARK – For most students, choosing dinner is second nature; it’s a task that doesn’t require too much deliberation. However, Jack Smith of Pennsylvania has been staring at his open fridge for the past half an hour.

The choice between week-old lasagna or ordering Chipotle is a difficult one for Smith, an undecided engineering student at the University of Maryland. As a 20-year-old white male from the suburbs of Philadelphia, he is the ultimate wildcard. His decision tonight could have ramifications for years to come.

In the 30 minutes leading up to this moment, there has been great debate and turmoil surrounding Smith’s dinner. While Chipotle promises a more balanced approach to the dinner table, Smith isn’t convinced.

“I’m just afraid of what it might cost,” he said. “Getting Chipotle would be delicious, but would also increase spending. I like that the lasagna is free—it really knows how to handle the economy.”

When asked questions about the mold growing on the top of the lasagna, Smith accepted it as an ugly side to the issue.

“Yes, there’s mold on the lasagna, but I think there’s something to be said about it,” said Smith. “The mold represents the lasagna’s resilience. Having a meal that’s unwavering in the face of adversity is a really appealing thing to me. It could make me sick, but that’s just the reality of doing business. Sometimes you need to get your ragu dirty to be successful as a dinner.”

Despite leaning towards lasagna for the past 18 minutes or so, Smith still has his reservations about the process. Reheating it could mean even more choices between the oven and the microwave, ultimately creating another roadblock in the path to dinner.

“Chipotle has the potential to cut through the red tape and just arrive at my doorstep, ready to be eaten,” argued Smith. “It also creates jobs, from delivery drivers to cooks. This makes the choice so complicated!”

As of the publication of this article, Smith still has not decided what to eat for dinner. When asked a follow-up question about whether he would support Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential Election, Smith was reported to have said, in earnest: “I have never heard of these people in my entire life.”