I began my MSU career in 1999, a little over eight years ago. During that time I’ve seen a lot of changes occur here for the better and the worse.I’ve seen MoneyMate go off-campus to give students more meal options and freedom in their lives.
I’ve seen campus authorities close some of the most important roads on campus and thus negate the ease with which one could travel by car.
I’ve seen the shuttle program expanded from only three routes to five routes.
I’ve seen MSU football go from a 9-2 season to a nearly total losing season.
The worst change I’ve ever seen, though, is MSU’s decision to privatize our dining services to the Aramark corporation.
The closing of the Union was inevitable and was not Aramark’s fault. That place needed to be renovated. The cafeteria, though, did not need to become privatized to become profitable. It needed better management who would allow the cafeteria to cease wasting food and who would make more cost efficient meals for the students.
Changing the cafeteria will undoubtedly cause a decrease in business. Many members of the MSU staff would get a small take-out meal or a salad from the cafeteria instead of participating in a full meal. Now, with the mandatory all-you-can-eat buffet, many staff members now choose off-campus dining options.
Many professors have expressed dismay over their newfound inability to JUST GET A CUP OF COFFEE! Not everyone wants a latt. Some just want it black, and with Starbuck’s exorbitant prices, even that costs nearly two dollars.
Aramark also seems rather unprepared for the college environment regardless of its previous record of running food service on campuses. On Monday, Burger King ran out of burgers. Tuesday it was out of hashbrowns. Chick-fil-A was out of waffle fries.
I’ve not been in the cafeteria, but I’m forced to wonder what they’re lacking. In my past eight years at MSU, I’ve never known a restaurant to run out of anything, let alone their popular food items. Last year, Chick-fil-A didn’t run out of anything and I seriously doubt Burger King’s manager, a seasoned food-service manager capable of efficiently running a store, would allow his new position to come into jeopardy by failing to plan ahead like this. Instead, now that Aramark has taken over, these food service issues begin to arise.
Are these small issues a hint of what’s to come when the Union opens? Will Sbarro run out of dough for their pizza? Will the Japanese place run out of sushi? Or is this a simple slip-up with the new corporation running our lives?
Agreeably Aramark came into a poor situation with only two of its proposed six restaurants open. They’re likely taxed to the limit serving the student and faculty population and are having trouble adjusting to the demand.
I would believe that if Aramark did not have such a greatly rumored history in food service on college campuses. I would believe that if Chick-fil-A, Gooch’s Deli, Subway and the cafeteria could handle the student population last year with no hiccoughs. I even might believe it if all the food service locations were faster in serving their patrons (with the exception of Subway whose fine employees never seem to slow below light speed) and more efficient in dealing with their lines.
Aramark has been in full control of MSU’s dining facilities for the past few weeks and they’re already screwing up. If they’re going to stay on campus and make the slightest of profits, it’s going to take more than forcing freshmen to get a meal plan.
It’s going to take pleasing the student and faculty base by allowing us to dine as we want and on what we want and not forcing us into any pre-set mold as with the cafeteria or by forcing us to dine off-campus when the restaurants on campus run out of supplies.
Whatever Aramark is doing at the moment, they need to stop.
They need to change and soon or our campus won’t be profitable enough for them to remain in charge of food service.
Burger King and Chick-fil-A are poor substitutes for a Spicy Chicken Fillet from Wendy’s.