ARAMARK has poor record

In 2001, I was one of many graduate students who wrote DUSDAC urging the rejection of ARAMARK’s bid to oversee Duke Dining Services. Like other folks who came to Duke from ARAMARK infested universities I cited two reasons, namely:

 1) ARAMARK creates a hostile environment for its employees.

 2) ARAMARK’s track record of diminishing food quality while raising prices is well-documented.

Despite our warnings, ARAMARK was allowed onto campus.

Now that three and a half years have passed, let’s review what ARAMARK has really done for Duke.  For articles regarding the lower food quality, please see “ARAMARK in jeopardy” (The Chronicle, Feb. 24, 2004) and “DSG expresses ‘no confidence’ in ARAMARK” (The Chronicle, Feb. 26, 2004). For more information about strained relationships with employees, please see the recent article “Workers decry ARAMARK pressure” (The Chronicle, Nov. 17, 2004).  Better yet, try asking a few veteran Great Hall or Marketplace employees to compare their current working conditions to those of the pre-ARAMARK era. I’ve done this four times, and I’ve yet to hear anything positive about ARAMARK.  

Hey DUSDAC: We told you so.

John Cain

Grad ’05