On the front page of last week’s issue of The Gramblinite, readers read an exposé on a raw meat scandal in which a student was allegedly served a raw chicken sandwich at Tiger Express.
This week students are complaining about food being served at McCall Dining Hall.
McCall was said to be one of the places on campus to be reconstructed for this school year, however, the outside wrap seems to be the only part of the dining hall that has been reconstructed and gaining positive attention.
This semester several students have complained about on-campus food being significantly worse than the previous years.
“I’m not happy about that at all,” n employee of McCall Dining Hall who requested to remain anonymous said. “I really want the students to be able to get their full tuition as far as being able to eat in the cafe.”
Coming off the raw meat incident, the dining hall served macaroni and jalapeño pepper hot dogs, leaving students to post the dish on social media platforms as evidence of the decline in food quality and choice.
“That was just a bad choice that we as Aramark put out,” the employee said. “If were going to go viral we want to go viral with food that kids love and enjoy.’’
Still, many students have expressed outrage and want more answers regarding the process in which the food is chosen.
Students are advocating for McCall Dining Hall to meet food standards for every student, including healthier options and tasteful food that has been thought through and thoroughly cooked.
“Students should have variety of food in which we choose from, not food that resembles a prison,” Natahzja Sewell, 20, an on-campus student from Camden, N.J., said.
Sierra Birdsong, 20, a junior from Inglewood, Ca., voiced her frustrations with the cafe as well.
“They should take more time in preparing the meals they serve us because often times it is undercooked, or distasteful,” Birdsong said.
Many students are unaware of Aramark’s presence on campus. Aramark is a vendor that supplies food services in several locations throughout Grambling State University.
According to Kamala Kelkar, a journalist for PBS, the $8.65 billion company is one of the country’s largest employers and serves hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches and other food to more than 100 million people a year.
It also provides meals for more than 500 correctional facilities across the country and has been the subject of complaints about maggots and rocks, and employee misconduct.
Reports of questionable food quality provided by Aramark elsewhere provides ammunition for GSU students upset with on-campus food choices.