Campus Dining addresses food concerns at an SGA meeting
Tyson Dubay, the district manager of Campus Dining, announced many recent changes to campus dining halls in response to the concerns of students at the Student Government Association Meeting on Oct. 18.
During the meeting, Tyson addressed the need for improvements to dining halls and commended the many students who reached out with questions and complaints.
”I think it's pretty common knowledge now about our employment shortcomings as we work through the semester,” Dubay said. “Not unlike the restaurant and hospitality business in general, we have struggled to both source full time employees and students.”
To accommodate labor shortages, campus dining raised the hourly wage for students to $11, and has altered their hours of operation to redistribute services more efficiently on campus.
After Dubay’s statement, hands shot up into the air with requests to accommodate dietary restrictions, improve cleanliness and abide by health codes in the kitchen.
A couple weeks ago, Grand Ledge senior Scott Thomas ate at the United Table.
“Just pizza and salad,” Thomas said. “Less than 30 minutes later, I was the sickest I've been in my life with the stomach virus symptoms, and I was completely fine before that. The only thing I really did between when I felt fine and when I got sick was eat at campus dining.”
Thomas said that with several other reports of undercooked chicken, he thinks the chicken salad probably caused his illness.
“I can't guarantee, but there is definitely a possibility that that could be related,” Thomas said.
Students also commented on overcrowding and wanting to see mask mandates better enforced throughout the dining halls.
When the SGA board wrapped up the general meeting to break into committees, hands still remained in the air. SGA Senator Nova Moore, Clio junior, is concerned that campus dining is not considering disabled students when it comes to dining hall accessibility.
“I think a lot of students with disabilities are getting very excluded from this, especially because they seem to not know what to do,” Moore said. “I really think they should be working with Student Disability Services.”
Like several others at the meeting, Moore also expressed their concern for students with demanding work and class schedules which make it difficult for them to find time to eat at the dining halls.
Dubay told the students that campus dining is committed to improving their service and food.
“I can guarantee you that everybody on my team wants to provide the best service possible to students in their dining halls and across campus,” Dubay said. “We all take it to heart. We all take everything personally when it comes to comments and everything. At the end of the day, all we want to do is help you.”
Other business
- The sustainability committee of SGA is hosting a fundraiser at Papas Pumpkin Patch on Friday, Oct. 22 starting at 5 p.m. Proceeds will go to the Humane Animal Treatment Society.
