In Defense of Sodexo

Anyone who knows me probably knows I work for Sodexo - more importantly in the marketing department. So, it should be no surprise that I help run the Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare accounts for Drake dining, as well. Today, some things happened that made me FURIOUS.


One student (who comments all the time on Twitter about the "nasty" food and who CHOSE to be an RA and to have a meal plan and gets to eat for free) commented about the fact that we removed cereal from our dining hall. Seriously? We still have it, but not during the evenings like we used to. How about you BUY cereal with the flex points the meal plan gives you and SHUT UP!


Another student complained that the breakfast this morning was practically cold about an hour before we closed to prepare for lunch. He said it was a waste of his money. Ahem. This is a student on a FULL SCHOLARSHIP from Drake. By waste of his money, he must mean a waste of his time because he eats, lives, and goes to Drake for free. Make me barf. Sure, the food shouldn't be cold at that time, and even the best food places aren't the best at all hours. We are currently working to fix the problem he noted. Maybe next time he can do it in a different route.


The final student who always comments on both Twitter and Facebook posts is a jerk. Enough said. He is a well-known person on campus and makes that known by his stupid and pointless posts. Like today, he saw a link we had posted from "For Students By Students" which is our national board that I am a part of. He said "which students are these who are making these decisions?" and "I wish this was actually true." WOW. If only he knew....on the national board, we work very hard to make sure Sodexo is the best we have control over on all campuses. It isn't an easy task and I put many hours into this work each week. It was a highly selective group of people who care to improve Sodexo. Changes don't happen overnight.


Because of these and many other things, I am realizing most students at Drake are spoiled, pay for nothing without mommy and daddy's help, and have no appreciation at all. Honestly, you are complaining about cereal? What a first world problem. You are being fed. For free (in his case). 


I understand picky eaters, and my fiance is definitely picky. He doesn't complain. Even he likes the food. He is not some drama queen who has to have his salmon at a precise temperature and all his food gluten free so he can lose weight and because everyone else is on a gluten free diet.


I have had it with spoiled students here at Drake. Coming from someone who sees the behind-the-scenes at Sodexo, it is one of the cleanest places you can eat. We are in such good relationship with our health and food inspectors that they know me by name. We pass every time. We spend countless hours catering to the petty needs of these drama queens only to have the COMPLAIN more. 


What a shame. I hope these students grow up one day. For their sake.




(I plan to put this as an opinion piece in the Times-Delphic. It needs to be said. I don't care if it offends anyone.)