What are my dining options?

Do you like the dining options here at our university? Before you answer that question, let’s talk about the dining options we do have at the university. Our options range from the cafeterias to the few restaurants in the Smith Brown Memorial Union. Sounds like a lot to offer but to the students its really not. Many students want more to pick from in the cafeteria and in the union when it comes to dining. When you are ready to eat, you want a variety that includes delicious food but many students also want healthier options. I feel like our voices are not being heard compared to what I have seen at other universities. I don’t want to compare our university to others but it’s really hard not to. When I want something to eat, I want to be able to just walk into the union and walk up to a place I like. I don’t want to have to get into my car and drive across town (but that’s another story.)
Last month during the university’s town hall meeting, students asked questions to the Aramark representative about our food options and how to improve them. The representative basically stated that they do listen to the student body but we, as students need to become more active when they send out surveys, which are used to give feedback on the current food selections. When surveys are sent out, only a handful are answered. Meaning that a hand full of students are the voice of what food options we have in both the cafeteria and in the union. Also when it comes to variety of places to eat in the union, Aramark stated that is controlled by the student enrollment. Currently, we have 6,389 students, which includes undergraduate and graduate students. In a question to Aramark, a student brought up the fact that Grambling has a Taco Bell and we don’t, and Grambling only has 4,553 students, which is less than our enrollment. Grambling has a Burger king, Krispy Crunchy, Panda Express, P.O.D Market and a Taco Bell. The Taco Bell was the focus point since we do not have one. The smaller enrollment was the answer given to the reason we could not have our own. The difference between Grambling and us are 1,836 students. Still not understanding why they can have a Taco Bell and we cannot but again the answer was Aramark could only control what goes on at Southern and not Grambling. Personally, I would want a Chipotle but I am just one person.
Now I mentioned a dining survey and that Aramark said only a hand full of students take. I remember taking one this past summer and there was another. I thought the survey would have been sent out to my school email but it wasn’t. One day I was I scrolling down my timeline on Facebook and noticed it. I use Facebook but I’m not sure if my fellow classmates use it. Many use Instagram, snapchat and twitter, but not Facebook anymore. I took the survey and even shared it on my page. I told my friends and classmates about the survey. It sounded like it would be really helpful but the fact anyone could have taken it really bothered me. If it was a survey to improve the dining facilities on our campus, why is it that anyone can take it? I don’t need some random person on social media taking a survey that will affect the food selections pertaining to me and what I have to eat on a regular basis. I felt like the survey should have been exclusively offered to students, teachers and staff. It could have been sent out through the school email.
While waiting on the results of the survey I ask is it realistic to believe that we can have better dining facilities here at the university? Yes, I believe we could use more options with healthier food available. I feel like what we have to choose from isn’t enough. I would hate for someone to base their decision to not attend SU for our of lack of dining options. Could the student body government help push better dining options? Those are some questions that should be mentioned, discussed and decided on during the next town hall or senate meeting.