Further concern for the future of food services was addressed Monday when the United Student Government (USG) announced they will be submitting a vote of no confidence.
Members of USG have been working on a change in Aramark and food services throughout the semester, asking for students, especially fellow USG members, to present to them any issues they have had at the café or dining hall. Now, they have taken the initiative to petition for changes to this system.
USG President Julian Singleton explained to the governing body exactly what a vote of no confidence entails. As a student body, there is an option to no longer have confidence in any particular aspect of the University. In this case, it is dealing with students’ concerns of food services.
“The complaints about food service just aren’t getting any better, so since each one of us represents a particular constituency, if we as a body say we don’t support something essentially because of the people we represent, we are saying all of the students are going to agree with the opinion that is coming from here,” Singleton said.
This action is not one that is seen often, and it is declaring that the student body wants to see the administration make a change. Dean of Student Life Michael Gieseke spoke to members about the severity of the action. He stated that, with this document, the student body is not looking for small changes, but to eliminate Aramark all together.
“A vote of no confidence is the most important vote you can ever give as a body,” Dean Gieseke said. “You are saying to the University that the student body has no confidence whatsoever in food services. It happens once every five or so years that the student body says something strong like that.”
The process is one that will take time. President Singleton, USG Vice President Andrew LeDonne and other members are working toward drafting a statement to accompany the vote of no confidence. USG will then present the document to Point Park’s administration, and it is then up to them to investigate. For Singleton, this act is one he said the students want now more than ever.
“It’s gone past the point of an irritation for students, and they are getting actually upset. I think it’s long overdue that we have done something about this,” Singleton said. “If they stay, we want to see improvements, and if they go, then they definitely need to go.”
After taking the process into consideration, LeDonne told his governing body that if everything went as planned, then the changes would take effect, at the earliest, spring 2016. They have to put the drafted contract up for bid, and the changes are based on whether the process progresses from there.
Dean of Students Keith Paylo said there was no time frame due to several questions that are unanswered.
“The first thing that has to be investigated for the contract is when the contract renewal for Aramark is,” Paylo said. “As long as everyone here feels that being the voice of the students you have adequately heard their voices. I wouldn’t put any kind of time frame on it because there are all kinds of scenarios.”
