From the always-popular Reuben’s omelets and the pasta bar to bloody meat and bugs in spinach, food in the cafeteria provokes a wide range of student responses.
Aramark Food Service Director Jason Micenko encourages students to voice their feedback about the company’s dining service to make a difference in the food options and quality.
“This semester, I would like to increase our Voice of the Consumer participation, which is our online real-time survey that measures quality, value, and service that can be taken on your smartphone,” Micenko said.
Unfortunately, some students choose to complain about Aramark’s food rather than voicing their suggestions to those who can create the change or address food quality issues.
The main thing [Aramark] can’t find solutions for is if students are vague with what they want…they need specifics. -Emma Reeser ’18
Student Government Representative Emma Reeser ’18 is responsible for voicing student feedback to Aramark staff members every week to create the change that students want to see.
So far, she and others on Student Government have taken action to address student concerns about vegetarian options in the cafeteria and healthier food options in Boomer’s and the Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) store.
“Between our Dining Style Survey, which is administered during the fall semester, and our Voice of the Consumer initiative, we get great student feedback,” Micenko said.
Reeser urges students to be specific about the type of change they would like to see. “The main thing [Aramark] can’t find solutions for is if students are vague with what they want,” Reeser said. “They need specifics.”
Complaints should be more specific than “Aramark does not have enough variety in the food,” Reeser said. Instead, students should describe what kind of variety they wish to see.
A fly found in the spinach one lunch period
When rating the quality of customer service, Reeser gives Aramark high marks. “They send out an email to me about what the problem is and their solutions to the problem,” she said. Some students have raised concerns about bugs found in some of the salad bar options and dishes that come out of the wash still dirty with food. “Every month we complete a thorough food safety and sanitation audit. Every three months an operational team comes and performs an audit looking over food safety and sanitation,” said Micenko.
When students see something unsanitary in any of the dining areas on campus, they should report the finding to Aramark, he said. Taking a picture of the problem with a smartphone to show Aramark the specific concern may also help to create a clear idea of the situation.
A student discovered bloody meat served in the entrée line of the cafeteria.
“I think there’s always room to improve,” Reeser said. “They’ve been trying to increase the quality of their food gradually. They want to keep the food within their budget but still have good quality.”
To create effective change, students must voice their opinions—both the positive and the negative – to people who can implement solutions, she said.
To voice feedback to Aramark throughout the year, students should use campusdiningvoice.com, talk to Reeser, or email Micenko at micenko@lakeforest.edu. Students can also stop by Aramark’s office, which is located next to the mailroom in the Mohr Student Center.
