Anisa Jibrell – General Assignment Reporter
In light of the recent adjustments that were made to the hours of operation in Conn Hall and the Adanti Student Center, students like Amariah Boland, junior social work major, remain dissatisfied with what she believes to be chronic issues that have been left unresolved.
“Not only is the quality of the food terrible, you have workers with horrible attitudes,” said Boland. “It’s a bad combination. It has to balance out. You can’t have bad food and bad service; something has to give.”
Boland said most of the food service workers and cashiers she comes across lack communication and people skills, and are often times impolite.
“They’re always angry,” said Boland, “and it’s not anyone’s fault that they have to work there.”
Sophomore exercise science major, Ginelle Martinez, said some of the workers are nice, while others just seem to always have chips on their shoulders.
“All I’m trying to do is get my food,” said Martinez. “Instead of asking, ‘How can I help you,’ it’s ‘What do you want?’ It’s rude.”
Martinez said students should not be treated in that manner by food service workers given that a student’s tuition goes towards his or her paycheck, and gives the overall dining experience at Southern a staggering four out of 10.
“I know how you’re supposed to treat customers,” said Martinez, who works in customer service at Toys R’ Us, “so it’s a little disappointing.”
In the face of statements that hold Southern’s food service staff in low regard, sophomore journalism major Jared Klim said he sees no issues with the staff and finds most of them to be nice and friendly.
“I feel like they get a bad reputation because we have a lot of snotty kids on campus,” said Klim.
Klim, who has prior work experience in the foodservice industry, suggests that their attitudes are justifiable because he understands how rude customers can get.
“I understand why sometimes they can be a bit grouchy,” said Klim. “But if you make a personal connection with them at some point, they’re nice people.”
Some students find the staff to be off-putting: Klim however, said it’s the managers who are rude and has witnessed them talking down on workers on numerous occasions.
Klim said the student center is still working out the kinks, but the food is the main problem, which gets old really fast, especially on the weekends– times when Klim said he prefers a full plate of food at Conn Hall which is closed on Saturdays.
“I’m not satisfied, but hey you gotta eat,” said Boland, flashing a smile.
Martinez said she feels bad for out-of-state students, a small majority who make up roughly four percent of Southern’s student body, according to Collegeboard.com.
“They can’t go home whenever they want like me and have a home-cooked meal,” said Martinez. “For them, this is it.”
Carlos Gomez-Gereda, senior pre-med major, recalls going to 2matos, a pizza place in the student center, for pasta one day, but was told by one of the food service workers that it would be wise to pick something else instead.
“The lady told me, ‘You don’t want that, it’s been there for five hours,’” said Gomez.
Gomez-Gereda said he wasn’t sure if leaving food out for that long was acceptable, but was unsettled by her comment and chose something else instead.
“It kind of troubled me a bit,” said Carlos. “Let’s say she wasn’t working, and there was someone else there. I would’ve gotten that old pasta.”
Photo Credit: Derek Torrellas
