by Sunny Astorga
Staff Writer
If you are not satisfied with on-campus food service, it may soon be state mandated that your voice be heard.
Texas Rep. Diana Dávila, D-Houston, devised House Bill 3125, which authorizes students to air concerns in the process of selecting food service contractors for public universities before the committee or board determining a contractor's selection or retention.
The bill, which passed unanimously through the House Committee on Higher Education on April 1, requires students "be afforded a reasonable opportunity to discuss the performance of a food service provider or their recommendations for qualifications."
The bill also mandates that food contractors be subjected to periodic hearings or forums to hear students' concerns on the contractor's performance.
Currently, the University of Houston and The University of Texas at Austin are the only universities in Texas that contract out for food service.
"Students are not simply customers of the food service providers at our schools," Dávila said. "First and foremost, college and university students are customers of the state and this legislation requires their input so we can meet our responsibility to provide quality services."
Andy Blank, executive director of Residential Life and Housing, said student representation is something RLH has always implemented.
"No one told us to (have student representation), we just thought it was a good idea," Blank said.
Students presently have representation on two committees, the Request for a Proposal Committee and the Food Advisory Committee.
The Food Advisory Committee is made up of students and meets regularly with representatives of Aramark, the corporation that has provided campus food service to UH since 1958, and other representatives from RLH.
"The Food Advisory Committee enforces dialogue," Blank said. "It has nothing to do with a vendor getting a bid."
The Request for a Proposal Committee determines the specifications that must be met in order for any bidders to bid for the campus food service contract.
"There is a student on that committee," Blank said.
"(Residence Halls Association President Andrew Becker's) opinion is certainly heard," Blank said. "The RFP committee has student representatives elected by students."
Becker said he has been taken just as seriously as every other member on the committee.
"As a student, I have different concerns than the staff and administration. It appears the university's main concern is the profit the food service contractor provides," Becker said. "The university makes commission on all Aramark sales."
While the bill says students must be allowed to appear before a committee, it does not say whether this committee would be RFP or the Board of Regents.
"That would be before the discretion of the university," said Francisco Sanchez Jr., legislative aid to Dávila.
Becker said RFP is an advisory committee, and appearing before the Board of Regents would be more effective for hearing students' concerns.
"Having greater access to the Board of Regents would be a good step, but what is needed is more voting representation within the decision-making committees on the university."
Becker added that a bill should not be necessary for students to be heard by the Board of Regents.
"It's a given. Students should have the right to address the Board of Regents as far as I'm concerned," Becker said.
Frank Trazzera, general manager of campus dining services and Aramark representative, said the bill is nothing new from what is presently being done.
"(The bill) sounds great," Trazzera said. "I think the university has been on the cutting edge on including students, faculty and staff."
Kemi Osinubi, a freshman political science major, said the bill is something that could bring needed change in food service contractors.
"I remember seeing on campus that the contract was going to be open for bids. When I came back, Aramark was still here."
Osinubi, a former resident, added that Aramark's return was a surprise because she believes that the majority of students are not satisfied with their services.
Blank said he favors student input on almost anything.
"We've been having (student representation) for years. (Vice President for Student Affairs) Elwyn Lee is a great endorser of having student input on policy-making decision."
The bill will be voted on in the House of Representatives on Friday before being sent to the Senate.