Years of planning for a late-night dining option on campus could be contested during today’s vote on whether to bring a Wendy’s fast food restaurant to the Student Union.
UNC administrators say Wendy’s represents the best option for a profitable, late-night dining service.
But some students and community members are concerned about the environmental, social justice and public health aspects of having a fast-food chain in the bottom of the Union and hope the vote will be delayed for more student input.
ATTEND THE MEETING
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Student Union, Room 3206
“It seems like we’re taking a step backwards,” said Amanda Kao, a member of the Union Board of Directors, which will be voting on the issue.
Tonight, Kao and others opposed to Wendy’s — such as members of Fair, Local, Organic Food and the UNC Food Justice Forum — will focus on making sure UNC is taking community desires into account.
“I’m most concerned about what the student body wants,” Kao said. “I definitely think that students want a Wendy’s, but I don’t think they were given the proper information.”
They are hoping for, at least, a vote to delay the decision until more student input can be gathered.
Don Luse, director of the Union, says student input has already been gathered with a survey of 10,000 students conducted by Aramark, which showed Wendy’s as the best fit for students.
“This has been something that’s been talked about for a long period of time. It’s not a surprise,” Luse said. “And the timeline is such that this is when we need to make a decision to move forward. My hope is we will support this decision.”
Luse said student opinions and surveys of unions at other schools for years have pointed to the demand for a safe, 24/7 location that includes food.
He emphasized that when making the decision, food options across campus were taken into account.
“You can’t isolate the Union and say, ‘We’ll just do what’s best in the Union,’” Luse said. “We have to put a variety of options together.”
The University would share in Wendy’s profits, although the structure of that deal has yet to be worked out. Alpine Bagel Cafe, currently the only food service in the Union, pays UNC a flat yearly rate.
Carolina Dining Services would also be contributing up to $1 million for refitting Union space for Wendy’s.
If the board does vote to approve the Wendy’s, hope for a healthy dining option remains for the second phase of Union renovations.
Luse said they are also considering asking students to create a business plan and operate a restaurant on their own. Another proposal would be to allow students to operate the Cabaret.
Union administrators aim to come first to students with an idea for the second phase of renovations next fall in preparation for a vote in February 2011.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
