The Student Government Association’s Oct. 30 junior town hall produced immediate results in the Caf.
Kale has been added to the salad bar, and nutritional information is now available online.
The town hall conversation focused on student concerns with Sodexo, since General Manager of Dining Services Randy Penwell attended to talk with the juniors and listened to what they had to say, according to SGA junior class president Cassandra Rodriguez and SGA junior senators Elizabeth Yang and Angel To.
“I was very pleased to have the opportunity to meet up with some of the junior class,” Penwell wrote in an email. “It provided me/us a chance to meet and greet as well as to hear the suggestions of our clientele on what is going well and what may not be going so well which allows us to respond and make improvements rather quickly if necessary.”
The representatives said the students raised several issues, and many of them were fixed quickly.
“A lot of people talked about being health conscious,” Yang said. “And students had a lot to say about what they’re putting into their bodies. The fact that Randy took time out of his day and came out and helped us so much means a lot.”
The two most prominent student concerns, according to the representatives, were healthy options and nutritional information.
“One girl said she wanted to see kale, specifically kale,” Rodriguez said. “And now kale is in the salad bar. I saw it there … within a week.”
Rodriguez said when a student asked about nutritional information on Sodexo’s website, Penwell had the information online by the next day.
Another student, according to the representatives, asked whether all of the food at the salad bar was organic, which gave Penwell the opportunity to clarify that not all of it is and explain why.
The representatives said Penwell told the juniors that significantly fewer vegetarian options are sold each year than meat options. If more of those options were offered, it would raise prices. Sodexo is trying to balance student demand for options and low prices.
“It’s good that the students are more aware, and now maybe we can post something to let students know,” To said.
The conversation was successful because the students were cooperative and relaxed, and Penwell was willing to listen and respond to the students’ feedback, according to the junior representatives.
“I am very appreciative of the opportunity afforded me to meet with that or any group,” Penwell wrote, “and we are fortunate to have the privilege to provide our services for the Pepperdine University community.
“When he was speaking, Randy was incredibly responsive, very helpful,” Yang said. “He was really great to have.” She also said students should always feel welcome to approach their SGA representatives and to talk about problems or make suggestions for solutions.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Follow Falon Opsahl on Twitter: @FalonGraphic
As published in the Nov. 14 issue of the Pepperdine Graphic.
