The dining contract switch to Aramark from Sodexo this academic year has included improvements and expanded dining options, but there is still a ways to go in areas of: cross contamination, food accommodations, and pricing. Notably, students have reported difficulties with gluten free, halal, and vegan options. Students have also expressed an interest in the return of Griffin deals in Marketplace and Caf store. With the end of griffin deals and higher drink prices, students get less for their swipe and dollar, so we want to explore options for students to get a fair amount for what they pay. We also know the Ice Cream machine is on everyone's minds... Senator Matthew Hwang took the initiative to ask dining about future steps and they said they plan to add a new one to Sadler and Caf, but there’s no specific deadline.
Past and Current Work:
Providing funding for Iftars for the past three years
Individual meetings with Dining to figure out how to reduce the food waste on campus
Policy Moving Forward
Request private giving to fund Iftars. Every year during Ramadan, Muslim students have to find sources of funding for community Iftars. We want to streamline this process and figure out how to raise money so that Iftars can be more easily hosted and planned.
Explore a modified version of Griffin deals. We want students to get what they pay for, and removing dining options is not only inaccessible, but also inequitable.
Work with dining to prevent cross-contamination. Introduce labeled equipment dedicated to certain allergen-free cooking, and making sure vegetarian, halal, and kosher options are not cross-contaminated with other foods.
Work with Aramark about to expanding food accommodations and open this conversation to students with dietary restrictions.
Town Center Cold Pressed (Lodge 1) switching their signs that say “Coffee. Because good luck making the dean’s list without it” - maybe it’s not that deep😭 but it’s a strange stress glorification marketing angle.
Making sure our dining halls and shops are an accessible, healthy environment.