Searching for Satisfaction
Students protest food disservices in boycott of Marriott eateries

By Chrissy Braden
Staff Reporter

Food Service Manager Imogene Bundage kicked up flyers taped to the ground with the heels of her dress shoes Wednesday. The flyers advertised a boycott of Marriott Food Services.

David Dunai/ SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Fliers were handed out and posters were taped to the ground Wednesday to promote the boycott of Marriott Food Services. Some students opted not to boycott Marriott by still eating in campus eateries.

But the empty tables in The Main at noon showed her efforts were not enough to curb the effect of the boycott, which four students designed in an effort to change what they describe as poor quality, over-priced food and the dining plan increase for students living on campus next semester.

One the organizers of the boycott, Dana Szucs, a sophomore graphics design major, said the group did research on Dining Services, including a survey of 100 students.

Szucs said they also received support from some area restaurants, such as Jons Grill and Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, which offered discounts for students Wednesday.

Aaron Pilgrim, a freshman kinesiology major, did not take advantage of the restaurant discounts but said he bought his lunch at the grocery store instead of The Main.

“I think (the boycott) is a good idea,” he said.

Kevin McVey, a sophomore geology major, chose not to participate in the boycott.

“I’m hungry, and I’m broke,” he said. “I may have done something, but I just found out about it this morning.”

Szucs, along with John Valentino, a sophomore music major, Tricia Patterson, a sophomore criminal justice major, Scott Wipperman a sophomore engineering major, organized the boycott based on an assignment for Carrie Leverenz’s sophomore English class.

The assignment required students to design a proposal to improve a problem on campus, but students were not required to enact the proposal. Szucs said the group chose their topic because the administration and Marriott have not listened to student input on dining services.

Don Mills, vice chancellor of student affairs, said TCU has an annual contract with Marriott that can be canceled by either side with a 60-day notice.

But Szucs said neither Mills nor Rick Flores, general manager of Marriott, would give her a copy of TCU’s contract with Marriott.

“Part of the agreement is proprietor information and isn’t public documentation,” Mills said.

Szucs said they didn’t tell her why she couldn’t see the contract.

“It’s a monopoly,” she said. “As students, we have a right to know why it’s this way, and if we are under a contract, we have a right to see that.”

Mills said he was pleased to see TCU students concerned about something, but he did not think a boycott was the most effective way for them to make their point or spread information.

“Students should voice their concerns through student publications and organizations or a Dining Services organization,” he said.

Students need to make their point in a consistent and organized way. It’s difficult to respond to something (happening) chaotically.”

But Patterson said the group will continue fighting for the cause, and late Wednesday afternoon, many signs for the boycott remained taped to campus sidewalks.

Chrissy Braden
l.c.braden@student.tcu.edu