On-campus food service transition needs attention

Editor,

As you may know, the Student Union Building is undergoing a $25 million renovation project with a projected completion date of June 2002. Along with the construction project, the Student Union Building also had a major internal change.

Until January, the Student Union Building handled the majority of distribution and preparation of meals. Aramark Company took over the food services operation from the SUB once the construction project began. Student union employees have continued to work very diligently with Aramark during the transition to accommodate the needs of the UNM community.

The food kiosks were installed in locations to continue a convenient on-campus food service. Leaving campus to have lunch at a restaurant sometimes is not an option, especially when you only have a few minutes between classes. Unfortunately, the transition to the new food service format has not gone as smoothly as we would like.

The Student Union Building Board, composed of students, faculty and staff, has been meeting with Aramark to address concerns we have encountered while operating our “Secret Shopper” program. We have asked Aramark to address four areas of concern the entire semester:

1. Increase availability of products so they don’t run out so quickly: We are frustrated that products are constantly unavailable at times when stock should be plentiful. This discourages repeat customers.

2. Improve the quality of the overall food products: Exceed your expectations of our campus dining experience.

3. Add larger and weekly food special signs for menu awareness: Postings of daily and weekly specials are not placed in convenient locations. It is hard to determine what kind of food is served at each location.

4. Actively solicit UNM personal concerns and opinions: We want Aramark to actively solicit student opinions after they are done eating to understand their experience, rather than rely on comment cards.

We want to let the UNM community know we are encountering many of the same problems it experiences and steps are being taken to improve the situation. The Student Union is working hard to ease the transition by improving the dining environment outside the Lobo Lair and SUB West CafÇ through the addition of outdoor patio seating.

We would like to see Aramark resolve the concerns above and any additional suggestions students may have as soon as possible. If anyone has any questions or further comments, please contact us.

-Ryan Lindquist

Chairperson and GPSA

representative, SUB Board

-Rosalyn Nguyen

Vice chairperson and ASUNM

representative, SUB Board