Town hall opens dialogue on campus vendors, fair trade
December 13, 2009
Among the thousands of students at Florida State University, an individual who uses campus services may feel helpless to change them or voice their concerns. Student Government Association organized a meeting on Nov. 17 in the Student Services Building to give students the opportunity to learn and ask questions about services they use.
“It’s really an opportunity for them to share what they have been doing on campus,” said Student Body President Robert Jakubik. “SGA is very much about facilitating that conversation.”
Randy Clay, Aramark’s regional district manager, began the meeting by discussing the progress that has been made since he came to FSU in 2003. During this time, concessions at Doak Campbell stadium as well as catering and national brands such as Hardee’s, Starbucks, Quizno’s and Chili’s have been brought to campus.
“Now we have completely reworked the entire campus,” said Clay.
At the town hall meeting Nov. 17, the possibility of introducing reusable takeout boxes, like those found at the University of South Florida, was discussed.
Currently, a Starbucks café is being installed on the first floor of Strozier library. According to Clay, it will be the only double-sided Starbucks in existence and should be open by early February. Previously, a kiosk sold Starbucks coffee and grab-n-go items from some of the national brands on campus in the first floor lobby.
As with all new projects, Clay asked students to provide feedback. Contact information can be obtained by visiting the Seminole Dining website. He added that hours of operation depend on the traffic of customers.
Using traffic patterns, focus groups, building counts and surveys, Business Services has conducted research that is behind their efforts “to put services in the students’ path.” With that aim, Clay announced a plan to build a bus shelter at University Center A that offers quick and convenient food.
“We’re building a bus stop grab-and-go convenience store,” said Clay. “All the research we’ve done indicates that’s what we should do.”
Students expressed concerns about items being fair trade, affordable or healthy.
Java City, the brand of coffee to be sold at the convenience store, is fair trade certified.
“We as a corporation will only deal with fair trade individuals,” said Clay.
He explained that many of the expensive prices around campus are set by the national brands. The convenience store will offer an affordable alternative for students frustrated by high prices on campus.
“What we’ve tried to do is get a five dollar and under menu,” said Retail Operations Manager Kim Fitzgerald.
Clay made it clear that the pre-made sandwiches, salads and fruit offered at the store would be prepared daily by dining services, to ensure that it is fresh and controlled.
“I am continually looking for what’s the next major trend coming down the pipe,” said Clay. “We keep coming back to healthy, locally grown.”
Conversely, he discussed negotiation efforts to get a Chic-fil-A on campus, noting that it is the most requested food chain on college campuses across the nation. Student suggestions included bringing an ice-cream vendor, Dunkin’ Donuts and Nature’s Table Café to campus.
Expressing concern about sustainability issues, Clay called on students to help work out the logistics of a transition from disposable to-go boxes to plastic “bring-it-back” containers in the dining halls. The BPA-free reusable containers are being used at the University of South Florida and the University of Alabama.
“We have about 2600 to-go boxes going out a day,” said Jenna Hagerich, marketing manager and professor of hospitality administration.
Busy students can’t be expected to carry around a container, but they need to be returned to the dining halls to be washed for reuse. Students suggested drop-off points, working with the Housing department, a scanning system, and incentives in order to prevent the containers from being thrown out.
Clay concluded that the use of the containers has to be voluntary and motivated by peer pressure.
Clay lauded SGA for organizing the meeting but had doubts that it would replace any of his research.
“I didn’t hear anything tonight that we haven’t gathered in our focus groups, surveys, and other research,” said Clay.
Jakubik said that this town hall meeting had a far higher turn-out than previous ones.
“We try to do it every semester,” said Cates.
Photo courtesy of Ideolector/Creative Commons
