It is time that students stop complaining about The Spot and Davenport. I am sick of all the complaints. I am sick of the sulking faces talking to me about their growling bellies. And I sure am sick of people who are too afraid to take a stand, express their anger and ensure that they are heard. It is time to either take a stand or shut up.
Ever since The Spot’s reopening I have been in a constant battle with the employees. It seems that most of the workers there do not know how to run the cash register, prepare anything in a timely fashion or use proper sanitation.
A few days ago I went to The Spot for breakfast. As I stood in line to order, I saw one of the employees opening up the wrapped early risers, throwing out the meat and rewrapping them to be sold. OK, maybe the meat was not selling. What really burst my bubble was the fact that the employee managed to toss a piece of meat on the floor then picked it up with the same gloves that she was using to prepare food, tossed the meat in the trash and then merrily went about touching various unpackaged food.
I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I have a hard time ordering food at a place that doesn’t enforce sanitation. I also know that I’m not the only person that has witnessed improper handling of food, but it seems that I’m the only one willing to do something about it. Of course I didn’t want the early riser and I told them that they need to use the gloves properly.
I can complain, throw tantrums and refuse food, but it’s not going to do me any good unless others, who have been wronged, voice their concerns as well. I know that many students are too busy to deal with such minor inconveniences such as dirty food, but it’s about time to care. I refuse to hear another person’s complaints about the “nasty” food at Davenport, complete with toppings of hair, or the long lines at The Spot unless an action follows.
There are ways to make sure that the food we eat each day is decent, especially for the cursed batch of us who have to buy a meal plan, by taking our concerns to where it matters. It is time to voice concerns to Brett Roth, director of dining services, President Stephen Morgan and anyone else who is willing to listen. And it wouldn’t be such a bad idea if we informed our parents about our feelings and let them know why we spend so much money eating out or just not eating properly, and have our parents call the school. Maybe they can get some answers.
I have been told that Brett is a great listener, but how is he ensuring that students are aware that they can go to him? I guess the bulletin boards should do the trick, but they don’t. I placed a comment on the one by The Spot but never got back a reply. It had conveniently disappeared. Also, why can’t there be a monthly evaluation system set up to allow students the opportunity to evaluate the food service and give Brett the opportunity to see how students feel and what can be done to improve the service?
Yes, The Spot just reopened and there are new people who lack the proper training in food service; not everyone can learn to run the register or use gloves properly. All of these are excuses. Why were they not trained properly? Why are they allowed to serve food?
Fellow La Vernians, it’s about time that we stop allowing Aramark to gobble our money and leave us hungry. I don’t believe that silence is golden. Let’s be loud. So the next time your food is cold or there’s a hair in your salad take it back and demand answers.
Nune Gazdhyan, a junior communications major, is features editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at gazdhyan@ulv.edu.
