Unfair to commuters

C.I., Issue 19, opinions, Rachel See, Opinion - By Rachel See on Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 02:46

Being a commuter for four years at Whittier College has not been easy, given the focus of community living and a major percentage of students living on campus. One of the biggest problems I face is that on the days where I am at school from 8:30 a.m. to midnight, I have to find some form of food in order to gain energy.

Seeing as I don’t want to pay an extra $2,000 for a “commuter plan” to eat at the Campus Inn (C.I.) that I only hear students complain about, my only other choice is going to The Spot, whose menu is becoming more limited every semester. Because I don’t have a meal plan, the only time I’ve eaten at the C.I. is during orientation because I was a peer mentor for three years. Generally, the Bon Appétit employees I’ve encountered have been pleasant, but sometimes it seems as though they don’t understand that they are dealing with students.

On Wednesday, Feb. 15 for the Campus Center Block Party, the LEAP office purchased 80 meals for the first 80 commuter students to go to the C.I.; I would actually be able to eat dinner with my co-workers here at the newspaper during production night. Because it is Wednesday night and we were working, we were trying to take it to go. But because I am a commuter and don’t have a meal plan, apparently they expected me to either eat all alone or for everyone else with me to awkwardly give their boxes back and sit down to eat with me.

The attendant at the register was trying to lecture me on the policy, and another employee who was her superior also continued to reprimand me for trying to ask for my food to go. However, when one of my friends suggested if I brought my own paper plate if they would allow me to take food , they answered yes. Can someone explain to me what the difference is whether the food is in a green to go box or a paper plate I provided, if the amount of food leaving is the same? I don’t really care to be educated on their “policies.” I work for one of the most well-known and biggest name companies in the world, at the Disneyland Resort, and it is my job to provide the best service for our guests; I know all about trying to “educate” someone on a policy when really all you have to say is “no.” It is expected of me at my job to leave the guest happy to the best of my ability. I am not one to argue with people, so when they denied me, I left. It wasn’t until after I left that they then decided to try to make an exception, at that point it was too late. I don’t want to dine with a company that doesn’t have my best interest in mind.

In four years I have been able to find my place within this community, and the LEAP office has made many efforts to support commuter students by bringing in lockers and other amenities and programs. Some employees need to realize they are here to help students, and without us they wouldn’t have their jobs, so they should develop better communication skills to deal with students, which would allow for a more harmonious experience for all involved.