Epic Failure. That is the best I can do at describing my latest attempt at a dining experience with Sodexo. Unfortunately, this is putting the entire debacle mildly. However, it could possibly be my own fault. I did, after all, have extremely high expectations.
My experiences with Sodexo date back to 2005 when I first began my undergraduate education at NEIU. I would occasionally venture into the dining area to grab breakfast. The quality of the food didn’t impress me, and the prices weren’t superb. In the fall semester of 2007, the SGA began a boycott of Sodexo. Check the online archives of the Independent for more about that. Each year the prices at Sodexo have increased, but the food quality has stayed the same.
When the current fall semester started, I was hopeful. After all, they remodeled the service space, so maybe the food would match right. Not so much. The taste of the food still leaves a lot to be desired and the prices have risen even more. The money for that remodeling had to come from somewhere. So why not from students? According to Sodexo’s reporting documents, in 2008 Sodexo reported revenues of over 13.6 billion euros, or nearly 20.5 billion US dollars. This was a growth of 7.7% over the previous year.
In the October 13 issue of the Independent, Trista Gunderman reported that Sodexo’s manager Bill Reich was looking into a possible $3.99 value lunch menu. The October 27 issue of the Independent featured an ad inviting students to try out “The most delicious math you’ll ever do!” Notice that Sodexo did not say “food”. Shortly before 5pm, I went into the cafeteria area (hungry) in hopes of checking out this new value meal.
The Food In Motion Station had a posted sign for that day’s value meal. For only $3.99, you could dine on a meal of pasta and a 20oz fountain drink. There was only one problem. Food In Motion had closed for the day. In the past, this station closed at 2 p.m. but was open again from 4-6 p.m. Disappointed, I sought one of the servers to find out what occurred. I was informed that Food In Motion now closes at 2 p.m. because later in the day “people only want to eat pizza.” So the only value item that is available is now only available until 2 p.m. After that, you still get the same high prices. I would not be deterred. I went to the grill and got a grilled chicken sandwich along with a bottle of Pepsi. This “meal” cost me just under $6. No, I did not get fries with that. My grilled chicken sandwich tasted more like char than it did chicken. I was not a happy camper. I uttered several four-letter expletives that cannot be printed here as I thought of how I could have spent less and actually got better tasting food from McDonalds.
Reich pointed out that dollar menus only work in “super-high volumes.» Currently students can’t afford the menu. Would lowering the prices increase volume? Possibly. Based on Sodexo’s 2008 earnings reports, it is something that they could examine. The current attempt to provide a value item is feeble and insulting. Felicia Keelen, the Director of the Student Union suggested that students go to Café Descartes to eat in the evening. Unfortunately, not everyone can sustain life on a diet of coffee and bagels.
I implore the University to find a company that will actually service the customers that NEIU offers. This is a call to action for the University administration to make a change, be stewards for the students who are already struggling to attend school. Sodexo is clearly interested in making their product look better without actually improving it. They are limiting their service hours and restricting service to students. Find a food service provider that can meet the financial needs of students while providing quality food.