Students' palates in pique - Concordia's vegans want more on menu

[Guest guest]

Beating on drums made from oversized cans of diced tomatoes, dozens of Concordia

University students called for more tofu - and fewer burgers and fries - on

campus.

 

" What we're saying is give students another option, " said Zev Tiefenbach,

co-ordinator of the university's vegan food collective, People's Potato, which

organized yesterday's lunch-hour protest. " A lot of students are only getting

pizza, hot dogs and french fries. "

 

full story:

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Students' palates in piqueConcordia's vegans want more on menuby ALLISON

LAMPERTMontreal GazetteTuesday, March 26, 2002

 

Beating on drums made from oversized cans of diced tomatoes, dozens of Concordia

University students called for more tofu - and fewer burgers and fries - on

campus.

 

" What we're saying is give students another option, " said Zev Tiefenbach,

co-ordinator of the university's vegan food collective, People's Potato, which

organized yesterday's lunch-hour protest. " A lot of students are only getting

pizza, hot dogs and french fries. "

 

Debate over the quality of the university's cafeteria grub comes at a time when

Concordia is debating whether to hire a new catering company.

 

People's Potato, a non-profit kitchen that serves free lunches, argues that the

current food provider isn't accommodating students from different ethnic and

religious backgrounds, many of whom have special dietary needs. In response, the

group wants to create what would be the province's first multicultural,

student-run cafeteria.

 

As they served vegetarian chili outside Concordia's Bishop St. offices, People's

Potato supporters criticized the process to select a new company. For example,

the only students on the committee to select a new caterer live at the Loyola

residences.

 

Tiefenbach said these students hardly represent the palates of the entire

university.

 

But Johanne De Cubellis, Concordia's assistant director (auxiliary services)

said the 144 students living in residence have the most to gain, or lose, in

selecting a caterer because they eat all of their meals at school.

 

" In numbers, they don't seem like a lot, but they eat everything there - it's

their home, " she said.

 

" Other students don't necessarily eat here. "

 

Michael Di Grappa, vice-rector (services) said they couldn't have students from

the People's Potato on the committee, because of the group's own vested

interest.

 

" It's a situation where you're asking one group to select who their competition

should be, " Di Grappa said. " And that, to me, doesn't seem very fair. "

 

Acknowledging that the meal plan for students living in residence " could use a

lot of improvement, " Di Grappa said the university is working to offer students

more choice in the cafeteria.

 

It's an issue that that should be on the minds of students when they vote today

until Thursday for a new student union, said candidate Ralph Lee.

 

" It should be a campaign issue because students aren't getting good, healthy

food. "

 

- Allison Lampert's E-mail address is alampert

© Copyright 2002 Montreal Gazette

 

 

 

 

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