Mature people voice opinions maturely

My name is Candice Preau and I am a student intern in themarketing department of dining services in the SMU division ofAramark Corporation, which provides all food services to UmphreyLee, Mac’s Place and many other prestigious schools around thecountry.

I am a senior, and I have been attending SMU and eating atUmphrey Lee since my freshman year. In my opinion, the service atUmphrey Lee has only improved in the past few years, but let’s getto the facts.

Every so often I am in charge of databasing what is called ourSWOT analysis, which identifies what dining services needs toimprove on and what we are doing well. We also survey faculty andstudents periodically and get their opinions on how Umphrey Lee canimprove its service. Not once has a student reported that the foodis “repulsive” or causes them to vomit.

In fact, a large percentage of the responses are positive, withonly suggestions to add a certain food to the menu or extendedhours of operation.

I also go behind the scenes of the cafeteria and observe, rightbefore my eyes, cooks, custodial staff and managers tirelesslytrying to produce quality food for ungrateful students. Employeesof Aramark practice excellent hygiene daily. I watch as freshdesserts are made, often from scratch. I watch as soups are madewith fresh ingredients daily and how breads come fresh out of theoven. I watch as fruits are imported fresh and ripe. I watch asomelets are made-to-order.

In the past year I can say that I have neither heard nor read inany surveys or questionnaires that the food was “repulsive.” Ithink only Ed Board would have the audacity to bring awell-established, quality company like Aramark and hard workerssuch as the ones we have in dining services down, not to mentionSMU.

If students are hung-over, sick, on drugs or all of the above,it’s their problem if they eat something and get sick.

Here’s a bit of advice. If you are a mature person, which Ibelieve most students at SMU are trying to be, voice your concernsand opinions in a mature fashion.

Don’t write about it in an editorial that would give a reputableorganization a negative reputation.

Don’t tell all of your friends how much you would rather go toMcDonald’s. Come to the focus groups, such as one that was heldlast week which hardly anyone showed up to, fill out surveys andvoice your opinion in a mature fashion like the adults we are allstriving to be.

Aramark, Real Food on Campus at Lee and dining services ingeneral are trying to boost a campaign that will benefit SMU in itsgoal to provide top quality service to its students. Don’t play apart in tearing that down. Be mature and considerate.