JSU students discuss new food services offered by Aramark

De’Arbreya Lee
Staff Writer

At the start of the 2011 fall semester at Jackson State University, the university relinquished its food services to the Aramark company  to provide services in the Legacy Food Court, Java City, and the Heritage Dining Hall.

Following a series of evaluations of different companies, based on a four-point criteria, Aramark was selected in the spring of 2011 and began its operations at JSU on July 1, 2011.

“Aramark is committed and known for providing high quality nutritious meals that don’t get boring,” said Derrick Seay, Senior Food Service Director.

According to Seay, a committee consisting of students, faculty, and staff was formed at JSU in order to begin the selection process. “This committee conducted interviews, campus visits, and reviewed proposals from a variety of national foodservice companies that expressed interest in providing service at JSU,” said Seay.

Bringing in popular food chains like Chick-fil-A, Pizza Hut, Bistro 1877, P.O.D. Market and P.O.D. Express to the Legacy Food Court has pleased many students.

Real Food on Campus at Heritage Dining Hall now has Chef Godfrey Morgan on duty to provide recipes that were once only available in the Legacy.

Burger King is also set to open in the spring of 2012.  All of these locations accept SuperCard, cash, credit and debit cards and Tiger Bucks.

“The food is so much better,” said senior civil engineering/mathematics major, Naomi Suggs, from Oxford, Miss. who said her favorite thing in the Heritage cafe is the new make-your-own pasta/omelete option.

While Suggs is satisfied with the taste of the food, she said, “I don’t feel the prices reflect the food I’m getting.” Last year, said Suggs, students received $150 in Tiger Bucks but this year the amount is $125.
Aramark also provides its services to University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi, Delta State University and over 600 other institutions throughout the United States.

After weeks of being on campus, returning students and incoming students have explored the new options and share their thoughts about the dining changes on campus.

Jasmine Ash, a senior elementary education major from Stone Mountain, Ga., said, “I like them (the options in the Legacy Food Court) to an extent. I think that the variety could be a little more broad,” said Ash.

“I like the fact that you get more options (in the Legacy Food Court) but at the Heritage, the quality of the food is still the same,” said Kendria Gray, a junior psychology major from Calumet, Ill. She also stated that the money that students pay towards meal plans isn’t equivalent to the quality of food currently served in the Heritage Dining Hall. “It’s still the same situation as last year,” added Gray.
She also stated that the dining hall does not have options for students with different diets such as vegitarians and vegans.

“I think that if we just had different options at the Heritage, things would be a lot better,” said Gray.
Some students said they miss some of the former Legacy food options, including the salad bar and abundance of soul food, while others are still unsatisfied.

“The old Legacy was good because it gave you variety,” said LaToya Showers, a junior biology/pre-med major from Montecello, Miss. “Mississippi Kitchen in the Legacy gives you that variety, but it doesn’t have as many options,” said Showers.

QuaShandra Stewart, a senior biology/pre-physical therapy major from Vicksburg, Miss., also believes that the new Legacy dining options offer less variety.

“Now we’re eating the same thing over and over.” Stewart likes the new options, but she thinks they are all fattening options. “It’s kind of good, but it’s kind of bad.”

Along with invitations for students to offer suggestions and concerns about the JSU Dining during periodically scheduled meetings held throughout the semester, Seay said that students have also expressed their thoughts on social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook.

“Many faculty, staff and students have welcomed Aramark with open arms,” said Seay who said that he gets pleasure in being a part of the continuous positive growth of Jackson State.

With long term goals of success for the program, Seay said that Aramark has a lot in store for the future of dining experience at Jackson State for staff, faculty and  especially for students.

“We hope to continue to enhance the dining experience and create fun, comfortable environments that truly foster a sense of community on campus,” said Seay.

For more information about JSU’s dining services, log onto www.jsumsdining.com or contact the Food Services Director at (601) 979-2561.