“In the Pancake Society all flippers are created equal.”

On Thursday, January 30, the Pancake Society gathered for its first breakfast of 2025 in the Taylor Hall common room, but there was nothing common about the pancakes being made.

Sure, you could have a plain one, but what’s the fun in that? There were so many others to try: blueberry, strawberry, chocolate chip, birthday confetti sprinkles in honor of one student’s birthday. Syrup of course, but if you like a little chocolate sauce and whipped cream on your pancake, go for it. 

Senior Isaac Garcia, a resident advisor in Taylor, came into the room. He said he followed the aroma of those pancakes being cooked on a griddle. Students gathered around the table for a community breakfast.

Anyone can try to perfect their pancake making. “In the Pancake Society all flippers are created equal,” said one student.

The Pancake Society was co-founded by Gunnar Simons ’18 and Ryan Durkin ’18. They had their rules — don’t call us the Pancake Club; don’t suggest we get a waffle iron; we are the PANCAKE Society, the name says it all; and wash your own dishes, but “no one ever does,” Gunnar said at the time.

The Pancake Society has ebbed and flowed over the years but is back in full force during the 2024–25 school year with a few feasts already. Students should check the Daily Bulletin for the next Pancake Society breakfast. When the group meets, the day is always Thursday since classes start a half hour later, at 9 a.m.

Two of the leaders are sophomores Sophie Posamentier and Grace Sauer.

Sophie said she heard about the club — whoops, sorry Gunnar and Ryan, the society — when she was a prospective student and thought it was a “really fun idea. It’s just fun to be up in the morning cooking with people, and there are so many fun additions to pancakes that are cool to try.”

Grace said she enjoys the community-building aspect of the group and sees it as a tradition. Her favorite pancake: Chocolate chip with some chocolate sauce and fruit on top.

People, of course, can be passionate about their pancakes. Around the table, each student described their favorite pancake. Chocolate chip got multiple endorsements. And that would make the co-founders proud. They once said, “If you request a pancake without chocolate chips, we make it square.”

Someone said banana. Then banana chocolate chip was suggested. “We will try that one,” came the answer.

“It’s better to put the banana on the top,” said one pancake aficionado.

“I appreciate the fruit inside the pancake,” another responded.

On this morning, Sophie, the birthday girl, had a pancake with sprinkles and chocolate chips inside.

“It looks weird,” said someone. “Was it good?”

“Yeah,” said Sophie with a smile.

And soon the students were off to classes, carrying with them that feeling of community — and a full stomach. Sophie, a member of the alpine ski team, had competed the night before and on this night would be singing in a concert on campus. That’s a full plate.