Editorial

Students should have more input for Kimmel alternatives

Although Food Services used customer feedback and surveys when deciding to replace Taco Bell and Burger King in the Kimmel Food Court, Syracuse University students still felt betrayed.

The changes were implemented during summer break. Trios and Queso’s officially debuted Thursday, in time for opening weekend. Returning students, eager to use their SUperfood money during the late-night hours of the weekend, were met with surprise. Most students were upset.

Food Services officials say the changes happened in order to bring students healthier options, which is something they say students often ask for through comment cards and surveys. SU can control the ingredients and the menus.

Although it’s within SU’s domain to control what food options are available, the students should still be involved every step of the way. All students who live in residence halls on campus are required to buy a meal plan, which includes SUperfood money.

One of the perks of being required to purchase a meal plan was the ability to buy name-brand fast food late at night in a convenient, on-campus location. And while Burger King is still available in other locations on campus, none of the locations were as easily accessible as Kimmel.



Many students are upset they were not informed of the changes until they happened. They feel as though they did not have an adequate input into this decision. While Food Services may have used surveys and comment cards to deduce students wanted healthier options, they did not ask if students wanted healthier choices in place of the popular options of Burger King and Taco Bell.

The newly created student food advisory board, housed in Student Association, was part of the discussion in bringing Trios and Queso’s to Kimmel. The advisory board was not included in the final decision, but the board, which should represent the students’ attitudes on campus, should take this as an opportunity to make sure students are aware of changes happening, as well as make sure students can voice their opinions.





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