Behind the Counter
Discrepancies at Chesapeake Dinning Hall
Rebeccah Pruitt
Issue date: 12/9/09 Section: The Pulse
Dissatisfaction with the staple provider of food at Frostburg has developed into a boiling rage for some students.
RHA President, Brett Shepherd, is one of these students. "A major factor in leaving campus is the food, because why would you want to eat lackluster food when you could go to Wal-Mart or Martin's? ...Western students love their food."
Most students feel that the taste of the food is completely unappetizing.
Lauriane Prigent is an FSU exchange student from France. "In terms of taste, it is not better [than the French cafeteria], but it terms of healthiness, there is less choice."
Accusations of illegality whisper across the dining room. Elizabeth Radcliffe, a student, is one cynic. "There is no way they're passing their health inspections."
However, Eric Barker, Residential Operations Manager and Campus Services, negated all allegations and wishes to assure students. "The health inspector comes once a month and we pass."
However, the only accusation that Mr. Barker disclosed to having any truth is that of overworked workers.
Dinner on average serves 600-800 people, with up to 1000 people coming in during open houses. Yet, the staff only consists of 13 people serving with 4 dishwashers. The cafeteria seems woefully understaffed. They will call on the catering staff if they absolutely need to, but often it is only 13 versus 800.
Frustration over the enforced meal plans incites perhaps the most dynamic anger. "I feel like it's not worth the price. I'm only getting the meal plan because I live on campus; if I lived off campus I would definitely not get the meal plan," said student Colette Hapi.
A student receives a set amount of meals per week; yet, if the student does not use all of his or her meals, those meals are lost and the profits go to the University. During the week before Thanksgiving break, the university was closed for five days that the students still had to pay for food.
Conversely, senior Kyle Ritchie feels that concerning the food, students are getting their money's worth. "You cannot have gourmet food. It's all you can eat, and fruit and meat are expensive...they almost always have a wide variety. My main problem is not with the quality but, just that we're required to get a meal plan."
Likewise, Lauriane Prigent noted distinct differences between the Frostburg cafeteria and the cafeteria back home. "In France, you can have one drink. If you want soda you have to pay for more than one can. You can only have one serving of food and then you're done, but here you can have as much as you want."
The cafeteria is somewhat of an anomaly, allowing the students to eat as much they desire. Those students who have complaints concerning how the Chesapeake funds are spent should ask themselves how much cafeteria food they waste every day.
RHA President, Brett Shepherd, is one of these students. "A major factor in leaving campus is the food, because why would you want to eat lackluster food when you could go to Wal-Mart or Martin's? ...Western students love their food."
Most students feel that the taste of the food is completely unappetizing.
Lauriane Prigent is an FSU exchange student from France. "In terms of taste, it is not better [than the French cafeteria], but it terms of healthiness, there is less choice."
Accusations of illegality whisper across the dining room. Elizabeth Radcliffe, a student, is one cynic. "There is no way they're passing their health inspections."
However, Eric Barker, Residential Operations Manager and Campus Services, negated all allegations and wishes to assure students. "The health inspector comes once a month and we pass."
However, the only accusation that Mr. Barker disclosed to having any truth is that of overworked workers.
Dinner on average serves 600-800 people, with up to 1000 people coming in during open houses. Yet, the staff only consists of 13 people serving with 4 dishwashers. The cafeteria seems woefully understaffed. They will call on the catering staff if they absolutely need to, but often it is only 13 versus 800.
Frustration over the enforced meal plans incites perhaps the most dynamic anger. "I feel like it's not worth the price. I'm only getting the meal plan because I live on campus; if I lived off campus I would definitely not get the meal plan," said student Colette Hapi.
A student receives a set amount of meals per week; yet, if the student does not use all of his or her meals, those meals are lost and the profits go to the University. During the week before Thanksgiving break, the university was closed for five days that the students still had to pay for food.
Conversely, senior Kyle Ritchie feels that concerning the food, students are getting their money's worth. "You cannot have gourmet food. It's all you can eat, and fruit and meat are expensive...they almost always have a wide variety. My main problem is not with the quality but, just that we're required to get a meal plan."
Likewise, Lauriane Prigent noted distinct differences between the Frostburg cafeteria and the cafeteria back home. "In France, you can have one drink. If you want soda you have to pay for more than one can. You can only have one serving of food and then you're done, but here you can have as much as you want."
The cafeteria is somewhat of an anomaly, allowing the students to eat as much they desire. Those students who have complaints concerning how the Chesapeake funds are spent should ask themselves how much cafeteria food they waste every day.
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