Sodexo restrictions prompt ISA complaints

The India Student Association (ISA) has complained that the contract between the Rayburn Student Center (RSC) and Sodexo has significantly hindered their ability to hold events at A&M-Commerce's campus hub.

The issue stems from the fact that the ISA has not been allowed to bring in outside food to culturally-specific events and must rely on Sodexo to cater the event. ISA member and webmaster Pratyush Kotturu said this creates problems with cost and availability.

"Since the beginning of the SRSC, we were facing problems with Sodexo," Kotturu said. "Not only us, most of the international student organizations face the same problems. Policies such as, we have to buy food from Sodexo for every event in RSC, which is more than double price from restaurants in Dallas and food is not authentic, is really a bit deal for small organizations like ISA in which food is a part of the culture."

Charles Lear, the general manager for Sodexo's campus dining services, said the company's policy regarding international food is to use their vast network of knowledge to make sure it gets done.

"Sodexo is a global company with the ability to obtain any food requested by any group on this campus," Lear said. "If our onsite Executive Chef is not familiar with the menu requested we will not only work with the requesting group but network with the multitude of Sodexo chef's throughout our company to get the job done."

Lear said just like any other food, foreign cuisine has ingredients and a recipe to follow. All of these things can be obtained, given enough time.

"Timing is very important in planning these specialty menu events, to allow us time to source and ensure that we understand the production needs of the menu," he said. "Two weeks is our standard for a catering request of any type of menu, although more time would always be helpful in planning more traditional ethnic menus as well as provide the requesting group with a price of services so they may account or fund raise if needed for this expense."

Kotturu said when it comes to holding events, the RSC is the ISA's best, and sometimes only, option.

"We like RSC, due to its space and media allowances," he said. "For major events, we don't have much of a choice because, other campus locations have restrictions; such as, music halls won't allow food inside, MRC only allows events of sports in nature. So we have to stick to RSC. "

Director of the RSC Wendy Morgan was not available for an interview at the time of publication. For information from the Morgan interview and more on this story, keep checking theeasttexan.com or pick up a print edition of The East Texan on April 19.