CDS Dissatisfaction Factor in Dining Bid

Capitalist competition may mean better food for Oberlin students as soon as next fall. Last spring, the College chose to launch an investigation into the dining service instead of simply signing a new contract with Sodexho-Marriot.

The College never deliberately brought Sodexho-Marriot to campus. "My recollection is that we were with a smaller, more regional company called Service Systems. About 15 years ago, Marriot acquired Service Systems," Assistant Director of Residential Life Michelle Gross said. When Marriot's previous contract expired, the administration had second thoughts about creating a new contract, and so the old contract was extended. "We stopped improving the old one, and said 'Let's spend our time and effort elsewhere," Gross said.

Dean of Students Peter Goldsmith said, "We were about to sign [a contract] last spring when the President and others decided that it was time to take a closer look at our dining arrangements, and that it would be better not to get locked into a contract of any length until we determine what it is that we need out of dining at Oberlin."

The College has hired a Food Service Management consultant who is currently investigating and creating a report about the dining needs on campus. The report will be used next year when the College will open CDS up to bidders.

This fall, consultant Hank Steinberg has made three visits to campus and met with administration, faculty, groups of students and the Housing and Dining Committee. "What the College is doing is that we've hired Hank to help us assess our dining facilities, then Hank's going to be working with a number of different dining companies and they're going to be placing bids and showing their level of interest in possibly working with Oberlin College in the future," Director of Residential Life Kim Lafond said.

Steinberg has found that students are concerned with issues including the quality of food, the variety of the menu, nutritious aspects and the availability of the food service. Steinberg cited hours of service as "a big issue," and said, "I think colleges are moving away from the traditional three meals a day. College students tend to 'graze' more. They want to eat more often, but eat less food each time."

Socially and politically aware students had non-food related concerns about Oberlin's current provider. Sodexho-Marriot's sister company, Sodexho Alliance, owns 16.9 percent of Corrections Corporation of America, a for-profit prison company.

Goldsmith recognized this concern. "It's not hard to understand why people would be uneasy about a company that runs for-profit prisons," he said, adding, "We are told by Sodexho Alliance that it is their intention to divest themselves of this stock in the near future and many of us will be watching that with some interest."

Companies will begin visiting campus and discussing bids this January. Steinberg expects that "national companies, regional companies, both big and small companies will come." He explained that the companies will be asked to respond to a document he will prepare after speaking with many factions on campus.

"We want to attract the largest number of bidders possible," Goldsmith said, "because it will be to the advantage of Oberlin if [the bidding process] is highly competitive."

One of the groups Steinberg met with was the Housing and Dining Committee. "Housing and Dining will give a recommendation to the faculty committee who will make the final decision," said sophomore Ashleigh Goldberg, a student member of the committee.

"As of now, it's pretty open," she said, "Marriot will probably bid, but it's not necessarily the top choice of the school."