Editorial: Campus Food Prices
It must be quite an operation to manage the food services of a major university such as Stony Brook.’ Recruiting competent workers, dealing with employee pay and benefits, trying not to get ripped off by vendors, all the while trying to keep prices reasonable and stable must be quite the juggling act, and thank God the FSA is up to the task.’ However, there are certain practices by campus dining facilities that are simply unacceptable, and greatly detract from the good work that the FSA does for the campus.
Milk should not cost twice as much in the Union Deli as it does in the local Waldbaums.’ Mediocre pizza should not cost significantly more than good pizza does at local pizzerias.’ Most importantly, under no circumstances should specialties, including chocolates, be sold for many times what they retail for at supermarkets at the end of the semester, when students have the most points available to them to burn.
When you are in the thick of something, doing your best to stay above water and deliver basic services, it is very easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.’ There is nobody on the staff of the Statesman that believes that top FSA brass is out to steal money from starving college students.’ Rather, by the time all the minutiae of running such an elaborate organization is taken care of, there is little to no energy left at the end of the day to focus on the shortcomings of the system.
We are a captive audience on campus and will eat at the SAC regardless of whether or not the prices are reasonable.’ Without constant and forceful feedback from students and faculty, it is only natural that the prices of food will rise and the quality will fall to the level that people will tolerate.’ While the state of dining on campus is far from dismal, it is equally far from optimal.’ The FSA relies on you, the student body, to constantly let it know what goes right and what goes wrong.
The Statesman recognizes student discontent on campus regarding food prices and availability and urges students to contact those who have the power to effect change.’ The FSA is here to serve the campus community in the best way possible.’ Without hearing your concerns and your praises, serving us becomes that more difficult.
Before you think that Campus Dining Services is the Man to be railed against, give them the benefit of the doubt and you will find them to be more accessible than you think.’ With constant feedback and encouragement, we can go from a campus that gouges students to one that is more sensitive to our needs.
