HALIFAX: A Coalition of Student Societies on the Saint Mary’s Campus has been working all year to challenge the food model on campus. A growing consensus on campus clearly shows that students want a change in their campus food system. The Coalition has amassed a petition of more than 1200 signatures – and counting – calling for, among other things, the end of Saint Mary’s University’ 12-year exclusive food service contract with Aramark. The group has had several frustrating and fruitless meeting with Saint Mary’s University administrators, and is being stonewalled in its efforts by the university bureaucracy in hopes that the semester will run out before they will have to deal with the food campaign. If this is allowed to happen, Aramark will remain unchallenged and the university will continue to support a corporate food model on campus without having to answer to the student and faculty who want change. The Coalition and its supporters want to see a more democratic process for the formulation of food policy, so that the campus community can have a say as to how food provisioning happens.
The group has hosted free food servings on campus feeding hundreds of students fresh, local and organic food, and held a town hall meeting open to everyone on campus regarding food issues. It has become clear that the campus community wants to see more local sourcing and ethical purchasing through relationships with local farmers and businesses, and a greater diversity of food addressing needs such as dietary restrictions, vegetarian and veganism, religious and cultural considerations, etc. Now, it is time for louder action!
On Wednesday, March 24, 2010, at 12pm, the Coalition is holding a Boycott and Celebration on this National Day of Action, which students and community members from across the country are joining! It is calling for a boycott of all Aramark food (which is all food served on campus), serving a free meal to anyone who wants it in the lobby of the Student Centre, and having a party with music, dancing, and a demonstration of student solidarity for change!
This campaign is endorsed by, among others: Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada; Saint Mary’s University Faculty Union; Campus Action on Food; NSPIRG-SMU; SMU Women’s Centre; King’s Alternative Food Cooperative Association; SMU Oxfam Society; International Development Studies Undergraduate and Graduate Societies; SMU Heart and Stroke Foundation Society, and many more!
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For more information about this topic and event, or to schedule an interview with a Coalition of Student Societies leader, please contact Mira Lyona t 902-489-7059 or SMU.Food@gmail.com