2008 Woodie Awards
Cravin' For the Colonel
Commercial Food Vending Would Benefit Students, Benefit MSU
Asokan, Vignesh
Issue date: 12/2/04 Section: Opinion
I make the journey everyday - either to Freeman, the Ratt, or occasionally Blanton. As I approach, I always find myself yearning for more. Nothing really looks enticing. The potatoes are usually a little too bland; the soup is a bit too salty and overall there seems to be a feeling that you're not getting the type of cuisine that your one or more swipes is meant to pay for.
Now I ask, is it too much to crave the Colonel's eleven herbs and spices; too much to ask for "two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese all on a sesame seed bun?"
I wonder why, if I am entitled to eat unhealthy food, why I can't eat something that is quite tasty rather than submit myself to the tasteless grease that is the Montclair State University dining service experience?
But never fear, dear readers, I have come with a solution to the problem of horrible campus cuisine: get sponsorships from fast food companies. I would love to see a KFC or Taco Bell express rather than any of the Sodexho garbage that we have now.
Now, I really can't blame Sodexho for lacking culinary delights. Honestly, what can you expect from the major food service provider of many of the prisons found in the U.S.? When you compare university students to the many upstanding citizens that are found in our nation's prison system, I guess we deserve the same food.
The administration failed to capitalize on something that would have been beneficial for both the students and the school; by having a sponsorship with a fast food chain, the school gets to market a brand that students are familiar with and more likely to go to. This then brings revenue into the school. But instead, our school chose to go into a contractual agreement with Sodexho, which prohibits any other competition from providing food for the campus.
This essentially only hurts the students of MSU because there will never be anything to stop the monopoly that is Sodexho on this campus (their contract, signed two years ago, has another seven remaining on it). Almost everything that is consumed on campus is owned or operated by Sodexho.
With companies such as KFC and Taco Bell, the prices are fairly constant across the tri-state area. As students, we wouldn't feel that we were paying more for food that we would feel should have a better quality than it does.
In addition, I believe it would create a better campus because whenever I feel that I have had a satisfying meal, I am quite happy for the rest of the day. If this is true for the rest of the campus, then I think that it is safe to say that if we can convince the administration to add these fine havens of fast food, there would be a sweeping change in morale for the better.
We don't necessarily have to get rid of Sodexho; maybe there are some of those out there that enjoy prison food. But for the rest of us, let us have options that would delight our palette. For without options, we are only slaves to our provider.
Now I ask, is it too much to crave the Colonel's eleven herbs and spices; too much to ask for "two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese all on a sesame seed bun?"
I wonder why, if I am entitled to eat unhealthy food, why I can't eat something that is quite tasty rather than submit myself to the tasteless grease that is the Montclair State University dining service experience?
But never fear, dear readers, I have come with a solution to the problem of horrible campus cuisine: get sponsorships from fast food companies. I would love to see a KFC or Taco Bell express rather than any of the Sodexho garbage that we have now.
Now, I really can't blame Sodexho for lacking culinary delights. Honestly, what can you expect from the major food service provider of many of the prisons found in the U.S.? When you compare university students to the many upstanding citizens that are found in our nation's prison system, I guess we deserve the same food.
The administration failed to capitalize on something that would have been beneficial for both the students and the school; by having a sponsorship with a fast food chain, the school gets to market a brand that students are familiar with and more likely to go to. This then brings revenue into the school. But instead, our school chose to go into a contractual agreement with Sodexho, which prohibits any other competition from providing food for the campus.
This essentially only hurts the students of MSU because there will never be anything to stop the monopoly that is Sodexho on this campus (their contract, signed two years ago, has another seven remaining on it). Almost everything that is consumed on campus is owned or operated by Sodexho.
With companies such as KFC and Taco Bell, the prices are fairly constant across the tri-state area. As students, we wouldn't feel that we were paying more for food that we would feel should have a better quality than it does.
In addition, I believe it would create a better campus because whenever I feel that I have had a satisfying meal, I am quite happy for the rest of the day. If this is true for the rest of the campus, then I think that it is safe to say that if we can convince the administration to add these fine havens of fast food, there would be a sweeping change in morale for the better.
We don't necessarily have to get rid of Sodexho; maybe there are some of those out there that enjoy prison food. But for the rest of us, let us have options that would delight our palette. For without options, we are only slaves to our provider.