Angry student attacks ARAMARK with green banana
Aramark proposes major changes to food services
JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF
The first of two town hall meetings held at the University of Manitoba concerning food service providers for the university took place on Nov. 15. Aramark, the current food service provider, proposed major changes to the food program they now have in place. But what was supposed to be an interactive and informative meeting eventually turned into a radical display of discontent from various students present.
About an hour before the event began, Timothy Schwinghamer was handing out flyers on the event that included information from UMSPAR, a group of students that meets about food services on campus, and icePIRG, a public interest research group. Schwinghamer was eventually approached by security services and asked to identify himself as a U of M student.
“The flyer was encouraging potentially dangerous behaviour at the forum for the food service providers,” said U of M spokesperson John Danakas. “The flyer included the line ‘bring something to throw.’” According to Danakas, security requested that Schwinghamer stop handing out the flyers and asked him to identify whether or not he is a student at U of M. When he refused to produce identification, he was detained until he could be identified, and then released.
Troy Stozek, a member of icePIRG, claimed the flyer was promoting the event and “encouraging people to come out and participate in the Town Hall discussion.”
Schwinghamer noted that the flyer Security was initially concerned about was on the UMSPAR side of the flyer. “It’s an excellent flyer,” he said, “But for them to take issue with a tiny little thing was really insulting, given the overall message of the flyer which was the demands from the PIRG . . . representing the students.”
The demands in the flyer included healthier choices, transfat free food, culturally appropriate menus, and fresher food, according to Schwinghamer.
During the meeting, some of the changes proposed by Aramark included ideas such as healthier choices, international and ethnic cuisine and vegetarian and vegan choices. Although many of the changes seemed to address students’ complaints in the areas of seating, variety, freshness and changes to Pembina Hall, by the end of the meeting, security services were once again present.
Alan Simms, U of M vicepresident (administration) opened up the 30-minute question period by stating how important it was for the audience to ask questions about the presentation.
Questions asked and addressed included why Aramark doesn’t provide Interac everywhere — wiring is a problem in certain areas — and why residential students aren’t able to pay for a friend or family member’s meal with their meal plan — guest passes will be provided next year.
Two of UMSU’s biggest concerns were the fact that students aren’t allowed to fundraise with bake sales in University Centre, and that student groups are not able to cater their own events, and must go through Ararmak.
To solve this problem, Aramark would provide UMSU with $15,000 worth of cartering that could then be given to student groups. As for the bake sales, Clark Cunningham, Aramark vice-president for Western Canada, said they’re not so worried about having sales in UC, “it’s just the frequency of the sales taking place.”
UMSU volunteer co-ordinator and Arts Student Body Council representative Rachel Heinrichs said she doesn’t think the money provided by Ararmark for catering is adequate. She said that not allowing student groups to cater their own events is “monopolizing” and that it just doesn’t make sense to her.
Near the end of the question period, an angry student approached the microphone and pulled a green banana out of his pocket, calmly asking the audience to identify the colour of the fruit.
In an angry rage, the individual proceeded to run up on stage, peel the banana and tried to force Michael Oschefski, vice-president and general manager of Aramark Canada, to eat it. When unsuccessful, he threw the peeled banana at Oschefski and ran back to the microphone. As various people tried to cal
m him down his response into the microphone was “shut the fuck up.” He continued to yell out various angry words directed at Aramark and the university claiming they did not respect the needs of students.
Meanwhile, a supporter for the speaker yelled out to Aramark, “Seriously, we listened to your presentation for the last half hour, at least listen to what he has to say.”
As Simms closed the question period due to the commotion, the student from the back of the room had to be dragged out of the meeting while protesting, “The administration is trying to shut us up!”
“I wasn’t there personally, but I know that there wasn’t a lot of room for public participation at the event,” said Stozek, based on what he’s heard from those who attended.
“It was unfortunate that some of the people at the forum decided to engage in potentially dangerous or disrespectful behaviour, that being the use of foul language,” said Danakas, “But for the most part, the university community was able to find out more about, in this case, Aramark.”
The new food services contract will begin in April 2007 and will last for seven years. A committee has been developed that includes representatives from UMSU and RSAC, to review the propositions and select the desired company.
Sodexho, the second company bidding for U of M’s contract, will participate in a similar Town Hall on Nov. 27 from 12 to 1 p.m. in the MPR in University Centre. The meetings are open to all students and faculty.
Major changes proposed by Aramak