Dining officials vigorously defended J Street changes and Colonial Cash spending requirements last week before a town hall meeting with students, many of whom said they were losing faith in University food options.
Beginning this semester, freshmen are required to spend $1,400 a year at J Street using their GWorld cards. Sophomores are required to spend $500 a year. Many students said that although food content has improved from previous years, required spending is not fair to the student body.
Last Wednesday about 40 students attended a meeting - sponsored by the Student Association - featuring representatives from Sodexho, Starbucks and Campus Support Services.
Emotions ran high among disappointed attendees who yelled, walked around the room and used food as props.
Sarah Caffee, a sophomore, broke into tears while addressing the panel. She said the new program makes it impossible for her to continue the organic lifestyle she prefers.
"I was so angry when I heard I was going to be forced to spend money at J Street," Caffee said after the meeting. "I feel like students' rights and preferences have been completely ignored in this decision."
Sodexho wanted assured profits before making any risky changes, such as scaling down national brands, said SA Director of dining and retail Francis Murray.
"Students should accept the required spending as a necessary prerequisite to the changes they were demanding," Murray said.
Joshua Sacks, a sophomore, recently created the Web site FightJStreet.com, which provides a written outline of the problems at the venue, as well as several solutions. At the town hall gathering, Sacks spoke of his studies on J Street prices and wait-times, illustrating his points by holding up fistfuls of food provided by Sodexho.
"We should be giving venue owners a profit incentive to provide good food and competent service rather than rewarding the overpriced goods and services currently offered at J Street," Sacks said.
Beginning this semester, freshmen are required to spend $1,400 a year at J Street using their GWorld cards. Sophomores are required to spend $500 a year. Many students said that although food content has improved from previous years, required spending is not fair to the student body.
Last Wednesday about 40 students attended a meeting - sponsored by the Student Association - featuring representatives from Sodexho, Starbucks and Campus Support Services.
Emotions ran high among disappointed attendees who yelled, walked around the room and used food as props.
Sarah Caffee, a sophomore, broke into tears while addressing the panel. She said the new program makes it impossible for her to continue the organic lifestyle she prefers.
"I was so angry when I heard I was going to be forced to spend money at J Street," Caffee said after the meeting. "I feel like students' rights and preferences have been completely ignored in this decision."
Sodexho wanted assured profits before making any risky changes, such as scaling down national brands, said SA Director of dining and retail Francis Murray.
"Students should accept the required spending as a necessary prerequisite to the changes they were demanding," Murray said.
Joshua Sacks, a sophomore, recently created the Web site FightJStreet.com, which provides a written outline of the problems at the venue, as well as several solutions. At the town hall gathering, Sacks spoke of his studies on J Street prices and wait-times, illustrating his points by holding up fistfuls of food provided by Sodexho.
"We should be giving venue owners a profit incentive to provide good food and competent service rather than rewarding the overpriced goods and services currently offered at J Street," Sacks said.
