Food Council member removed

Although both Sodexo and Food Council report positive relations between the two organizations, the recent removal of council member Ben Weiss (‘10) has raised questions as to how Food Council handles student dissatisfaction with their current food provider.

Food Council is comprised of 10 students and two dining services members and aims to address students’ food concerns.

“The council’s main objective is to work with our current dining services to make sure the students are getting the best service possible,” Food Council member, Mitchell Demers (‘11) said.

Sodexo representative Donna Bauck was very positive while commenting on her experiences working with food council.

“They [Food Council] have brought great discussion to the table and helped make student-driven decisions,” Bauck said.

The council aims to represent all facets of Luther’s student body through the membership of a variety of students, ranging from vegetarians to international students to athletes. Recent events, however, have raised question as to whether this goal is being met.

On March 12, Weiss received an e-mail from fellow Council members Mitchell Demers (‘11) and Abhra Biswas (‘13). The e-mail asked that Weiss leave the council. The conflict arose due to his involvement with two student groups possessing conflicting aims. In addition to being a member of Food Council, Weiss also hold membership in Concerned Mouths, an anti-Sodexo student group.

Concerned Mouths began last summer as a Facebook group when the Luther administration announced that Sodexo would take over dining operations at Luther.

The group, which currently has over 600 members, claims mostly ethical complaints against Sodexo. The group is mainly digitally active, as members post comments, articles and questions concerning Sodexo on their home page. Weiss is the group’s creator and an active participant.

Food Council members had worried that Weiss’ dual involvement would impede him from keeping each group’s interests separate when they are working in opposite directions.

“It is very difficult to have a strong voice and a lead role in both groups if the interests are very different,” Biswas said.

When Weiss did not choose one group in which to retain his membership, he was asked to leave Food Council.

“Any time that I ever referenced anything that Concerned Mouths had talked about, I was trying to bring this as a conversation with Food Council, not to stubbornly oppose what Food Council was working toward,” Weiss said.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion Todd Green supports Weiss.

“I feel that the Council lost a very committed and enthusiastic member,” Green said. “I know how passionate Ben is and dedicated he is to issues pertaining to food services here on campus.”

The main complaint voiced by Demers and Biswas was that discussion topics from Food Council meetings were sometimes found on the Concerned Mouths web page.

One example pertained to glasses and tableware students have taken from the cafeteria. After Food Council posted ads aiming to prevent taking these items, a post was placed on the Concerned Mouths website suggesting this same action as a form of protest to be used until student demands were met.

Weiss feels that his removal has caused Food Council to have an incomplete representation of the student body.

“If one person is removed because of their dissenting views, you are no longer representing the entire student population,” Weiss said.

Demers said feelings against Sodexo are brought to the council often.

“You can have conflicts with something as long as you are looking for ways to improve it,” Demers said. “In Weiss’ case, it was in the best interest of the council to select another member.”

Weiss has retained his role in Concerned Mouths as they look ahead to the summer and next fall with Sodexo, whose contract was recently renewed.