[Parent-Network] Parent-Network Digest, Vol 6, Issue 7

Fri Nov 14 14:56:13 PST 2008

I just want to put in a plug for Ms. Todd's self-help concept.  My freshman
daughter too has had concerns about the food and times- and has made several
trips to Safeway.  I must admit I don't think she's losing weight though so
maybe my issues aren't as credible- although she's been sick a couple of
times so we do talk good eating habits.  She's had a fairly difficult first
semester and at this point it's clear that her grades will not reflect what
she has learned this semester - her abilities to fend and advocate for
herself have increased exponentially - that's a major reason I'm so very
pleased with Willamette - they make support services easily available- and
the faculty and staff totally respect these kids.  I've already sent her the
email from Ms. Todd suggesting they get involved themselves  - and nudged
her a bit. Admittedly I did look around for a survey (I found a college food
service that surveys the kids and requested a copy of their surveys- I don't
believe in re-inventing the wheel- but I'm backing off.)  It sounds like
there is a student staff committee all set up for this issue- and our kids
should all meet at their next meeting..  I know it's tough timing now with
all the work before Thxgiving and Christmas breaks, but if I were in their
shoes, I'd be interested. As a side note- have you all been intrigued with
the meals/food your childrenare requesting over Thxgiving....?  I didn't
expect some of the requests.   - Kathy

On Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 12:55 PM, <spartasmt at aol.com> wrote:

> Again, thanks to everyone fo getting involved in this discussion.  I
> agree that individual letters would be the step to take, to bring this
> concern to the right people's attention.  I know that more
> students/parents feel this way about the emal program.  One aspect of
> Willamette which we appreciated was the healthy community and local
> produce/foods available.  Seems that more of that could be utilitzed.
> And while I agree that the students could/should be their own advocate,
>  I think that freshman year, freshman first semester is not the easiest
> time to do that......,
>
> Sue Spartas
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: parent-network-request at willamette.edu
> To: parent-network at willamette.edu
> Sent: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 1:00 pm
> Subject: Parent-Network Digest, Vol 6, Issue 7
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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: FW: Food on campus (Jeannette Beeger)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:51:32 -0800 (PST)
> From: Jeannette Beeger <jeannettebeeger at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [Parent-Network] FW: Food on campus
> To: parent-network at willamette.edu
> Message-ID: <778130.42611.qm at web83207.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> My personal opinion is that Cheryl Todd has the right idea---concerned
> students should be their own advocates.? Every challenge our students
> encounter in college is an opportunity to learn new skills necessary to
> their maturation. If they don't learn to be their own advocates now,
> the lesson will be much harder later.
>
> To be honest, I'm pretty surprised at complaints about the overall food
> service.? I have eaten in literally dozens and dozens of college
> cafeterias across the U.S., and Willamette's has always seemed at the
> top of the heap.? In the several years we have had a student at
> Willamette, I've heard many complaints about weight gain but not loss
> (unless you count the kids I know who skipped meals to catch up on
> sleep instead,mine included.)? The highest ranking liberal arts college
> in the country has truly abysmal food---they even acknowledged the fact
> on our tour---and even there no one has been malnourished or led any
> kind of revolt, as far as I know.? However, if a sufficient number of
> kids really are disturbed about this and want to carry the ball on the
> issue, then I'm willing to bet the administration would be pleased to
> see them learn to advocate on their own behalf.? One thing I've learned
> about Willamette is that student engagement and involvement
>  is encouraged, as it's a huge part of the effectiveness of the college
> experience.
>
> Best wishes,
> Jeannette Beeger
>
>
>
> --- On Fri, 11/14/08, janet hines <hinesjanet at hotmail.com> wrote:
> From: janet hines <hinesjanet at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [Parent-Network] FW: Food on campus
> To: parent-network at willamette.edu
> Date: Friday, November 14, 2008, 10:45 AM
>
>
>
>
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> I'm attaching the email and response I received from Cheryl regarding
> my concerns.?
>
>
> Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:56:15 -0800
> From: ctodd at willamette.edu
> To: hinesjanet at hotmail.com
> CC: mmarelic at willamette.edu
> Subject: Re: Food on campus
>
> Hello Janet,
>
> All students are invited to talk to a Bon Appetit manager whenever they
> have food related questions or concerns.? As part of a student's
> educational experience, we teach them to become an advocate for their
> own needs.? Our Bon Appetit staff are very receptive to student input
> and comments and are available at every meal and by appointment.? In
> addition, there is a ASWU Food Service Committee comprised of staff and
> students who welcome conversations.? Possibly your son is interested in
> serving on this Committee, as well.? Please ask him to contact a Bon
> Appetit manager at his earliest convenience for more information and
> assistance with his dinner concerns.
>
> Best wishes,
> Cheryl
>
> janet hines wrote:
>
>
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> Dear Cheryl:?
> ?I am writing to ask for somebody to address the food plan and quality
> of the food at Willamette.? My son is a freshman and has lost 10 pounds
> which he can ill afford since beginning Willamette.? He isn't
> particularly picky but he describes the food at dinner as being so
> unappetizing that he eats snacks in his room instead.? He has no
> complaints about the lunches and says the food quality is quite good.?
> Is there any way that we could either opt out of the mandatory dinners
> so that?he could use the money to eat something off campus?or is there
> a way to improve the quality of the food?? He is on the highest food
> plan but still isn't getting adequate nutrition even when he
> supplements with going off campus for two or so dinners per week which
> is financially unexpected for us.? Thank you for your attention to this
> important issue.
> ?
> Janet Hines
> 415 381-3348
>
>
>
> Windows Live Hotmail now works up to 70% faster. Sign up today.
> --
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> ~~~~~
> Cheryl A. Todd
> Director, Residential Services
> Willamette University
> Salem, OR 97301
> (503) 370-6708  (503) 370-6709 fax
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> ~~~~~
>
>
> Windows Live Hotmail now works up to 70% faster. Sign up today.
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