Baron Editorial Staff: Aramark’s monopoly is stifling student life

UNB Saint John’s contractual arrangement with Aramark Canada Ltd. has meant massive headaches for organizers of campus club events, says the Baron editorial staff.

Last week one of the members of the Baron staff went to the Regional. When stopping in the hospital cafeteria, he noticed a noticeably high number of UNBSJ students standing in line, sitting, and eating. After wondering, ‘why is everyone here?’ The answer he received from the students was pretty simple: it is cheaper for UNBSJ students to eat better food at the hospital than in their own campus cafeteria.

This is, of course, an obvious consequence of a monopoly – a situation where one producer is able to set otherwise unreasonable business terms due to lack of competition. Here on the UNBSJ campus the student population holds just such a relationship with Aramark Canada Ltd., the corporation which runs the cafeteria here at the university.

Food here is on campus is so expensive because the University signed a contract with Aramark which gave them exclusive rights to sell food on campus. What this means not only that other competing businesses cannot be set up on University property, but that any campus club which wants to hold an event involving the purchase of food must buy it from them.

After doing some research, the Baron has learned that various clubs trying to organize events with food on campus have had perplexing or frustrating dealings with Aramark. Certain aspects of these frustrations become quite understandable when examined.

Firstly, allowing one company to set the terms for any campus event where food is purchased has led to an environment where clubs are forced to pay hefty financial fees that can prevent clubs from holding the events they want. Secondly, rules and regulations that are put in place limit the size and quality of our events. Thirdly, when rules and regulations are met, Aramark sometimes still denies university clubs the permission to host events, giving the impression that decisions are being made in an arbitrary manner. With no other options, these are the services we are forced to accept, as unreasonable as they are.

Aramark is a company that provides us with everything we ask, but at what price?

Furthermore, the Baron has learned that cost estimates for three different functions, all having different menus, nevertheless had very similar prices. All prices include china and tablecloths – that must be provided by Aramark.

UNBSJ Life-Link recently requested an expense estimate for a fund-raising event held on Nov. 21, 2009 that benefits our students and the city of Saint John. It is a buffet dinner with music and entertainment that is held to raise awareness and, more importantly, money that is urgently needed to help those that need it the most. The menu was simple, consisting of curried chicken, vegetarian lasagna, rice pilaf, rum cake, salads and coffee/tea. The cost of this dinner is projected at 24.99/plate.

The Multicultural Society at our school is hosting a Grand Fiesta on Nov. 28, 2009 that showcases the multitude of ethnic and racial groups in our community. The menu includes a wide assortment of different cuisines including mulligatawny soup (with crusty bread), thai fishcakes, chicken tikka masala, porc guisat amb fuita seca, gomen sega, coca con pimientos roajs caramalizados, char sui pork, herb and garlic potatos, pinenut and honey tart, and a fruit punch station. The cost of this dinner is, inexplicably, also projected at 24.99/plate.

Last year, the African Caribbean United club held an end-of-the-year Extravaganza that introduced African and Caribbean culture to our community. The menu included pepper pot soup, mango and black bean salad, codfish cakes, gomen sega, chicken tagine, red beans and rice, fried sweet potatoes, corn break, rum cake, and coffee and tea. The cost of this event was 18.75/plate.

Something does not add up. There must be cost variations when it comes to differing menus (unless these prices are simply pulled out of a hat and Life-Link got the short end of the stick).

This past week, a club approached Aramark to host a potluck group meeting. There were certain criteria that the club had to guarantee for this event to take place. Firstly, the event can not exceed 30 people. Secondly, the food had to be prepared at home, not bought at another provider. Thirdly, the composition of the event members had to be UNBSJ faculty or students. All of these criteria were met, yet the club was denied permission to host the event. Rules exist for a reason, as unfair as they may be, but if followed, there should be benefits.

Unfortunately, Aramark functions as an entity that wields its power seemingly arbitrarily and in an extremely unfair fashion. The rigidity of their rules makes it difficult for students to get anything done. The extremely high prices limit the type of functions clubs can host. The seemingly arbitrary price-fixing creates a hostile atmosphere that frustrates students. If we as a University community want students to get involved, we must recognize that Aramark’s current behavior is hurting this goal. If they fail to change, they will stifle future student involvement.