(no subject)

[indecisionwins]

Interesting... Yesterday, I E-mailed back the person from Sharples asking if the changes were because of a cost-cutting effort:

"Hi,
That was what I originally thought it was when I saw the changes, and that was the kind [kind of, I meant to say] feedback I had in mind when I sent my E-mail. But after I mentioned it to some friends, it sounds like there is really a systematic effort to cut costs. (I've heard that they are really cutting back in the ML breakfast room, for one.) The only reason I can think of why Dining Services would need to seriously cut costs would be if the Living Wage thing is going into effect soon, but it's a little bit disturbing if that is why it's happening, since there hasn't been any debate on campus about whether we want to significantly reduce the quality of the food in Sharples to pay for a living wage. So, I know I should E-mail Linda McDougall about this if there is a policy issue to complain about, but before I do, I'm wondering if the menu changes ARE actually because of a budget cut, or if it was just a well-intentioned effort to change the menu. Hopefully you can give me some feedback on this...

Thanks,
Michael"

And this was the reply I got:

"michael
You're on the right track. Just a well-intentioned effort to change the menu. That's right. Of course we do not intend to cut the quality of the food in Sharples. We intend to improve menu choices. As always open to good suggestions. jan "

Now is it just because I just had some chai after being fairly tired, or does that sound like she's really, really trying to cover something up? Again, I don't know why they WOULD try so hard to cover things up, but...she really sounds a lot like Baghdad Bob or something. (Wasn't that the Saddam's spokesperson's name? Well, you probably know the guy I'm talking about even if I'm getting his name wrong.)

Either way, I think I am going to E-mail Linda McDougall just to see what she says. Probably not yet, though. I don't know, though...I know she's supposed to be fairly evil to the Dining Services employees, but would she really force them to hide what seem to be obvious budget cuts? Well, hopefully if I ask her directly, I'll get a straight answer. Or else the Phoenix may have to launch a crusade to save Greek bar, like I already suggested to arctangent...

Edit: OK, maybe I was wrong on this... (See my next post for why.)

Comments

[god-of-belac.livejournal.com]

There have been Dilbert strips about stuff like this. There's definitely a cost-cutting measure being undertaken here.

[arctangent.livejournal.com]

"Comical Ali" is what he was called, a pun on "Chemical Ali" for previously trying to hide the existence of chemical weapons.

[indecisionwins.livejournal.com]

Hmm, after doing a quick Google search, it looks like we're both right. (I see him called both names on different Web sites...)