More international groups speak out against Sodexo policy

More international students have voiced their concerns regarding the Rayburn Student Center's (RSC) requirement to use Sodexo dining services at events held there, and many plan on speaking out at the Student Forum on April 18.

Chinese, Nepali, and Caribbean student groups are some of the organizations that have repeated what was put forth by the India Student Association in an East Texan story on Tuesday. The complaints are over what students say is Sodexo's inability to make foreign cuisine properly and the high prices they charge.

This lead to a Facebook event encouraging students to attend the April 18 student forum at 4 p.m. in the RSC, and an online petition has been made asking for a change in policy.

A thread on the Texas A&M University Commerce - International Students Facebook page was filled with comments from disgruntled students who say they have not enjoyed their experiences with Sodexo in the past, including undercooked rice served at the recent Caribbean Night in the Morris Recreation Center (MRC) on Tuesday, April 10. They want the requirement to use Sodexo as the dining service provider at RSC events to be lifted or made less strict.

"From what I have experienced, the international food served by Sodexo is an ultimate failure," Angela Antony said. "Yesterday, for Caribbean Night, I went and told one of the Sodexo staff that the rice is not cooked, for which she gave an answer 'Okay.' This made me to go ahead and complain to MRC staff. I made them taste it and he took my plate from me. They were also upset about the food."

Antony's comment was coupled with students who have Caribbean backgrounds, with one of them saying he was "so embarrassed when attendees to the event tasted the good and have disgust all over their face. It literally brought tears to my eyes..."

Antony also said this was a problem that went beyond the campus's international community.

"It affects all the student organizations, " Antony said. "Even a fundraising bake sale cannot be done inside student center. So my question is when was this included in the contract between student center and Sodexo?"

The policy is provided on the RSC's webpage on the A&M-Commerce website. It is under the Scheduling Office tab on the left side of the page under Deocrating and Safety Rules.

It states: "No outside food or drink is permitted to be brought into the building without the RSC Food Waiver Form being approved by Sodexo, dining services general manager and the Scheduling Office."

The waiver must be submitted seven business days before the event date and it must be posted somewhere at the event.

RSC Director Wendy Morgan said these requests are not granted often, as Sodexo still has a compelling interest to protect themselves and students.

"There's opportunity to request exceptions, but there's not a lot made," she said. "They don't want to be responsible for food that someone else has cooked and may not be cooked properly or the food may not be handled properly. When they make those exceptions, they do try to be careful that they are looking at that; not only the liability, but the safety for students."

As far as pricing, Morgan said Sodexo General Manager Charles Lear has tried to work with student groups to ensure costs are within their reach; however, the company also has to make a profit.

"[Lear] tries to work with students to make it as affordable as possible," she said. "But, Sodexo is a business, they have to cover costs. If Sodexo doesn't make any money, we wouldn't have them as a food service provider, which means we wouldn't be able to serve the needs of our campus."

Morgan also said organizations can go to the Student Organization Allocation Committee, which provides financial assistance for events. She said the current set up requires organizations to receive only what they can afford and to get the most out of what they have.

"Sometimes, your eyes are bigger than your pocket," she said. "It's trying to make sure you are balancing your budge and if you need certain things, than you do need to do fundraising."