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When a Tsunami Raises Coffee Prices:
What do Students Think about the
Dining Options at the Graduate Center?

Antonia Levy & Dan Skinner

It’s been a long winter. But upon coming in from the cold for another semester, Graduate Center students were faced with the second price increase in six months of their favorite legal drug: coffee (details see sidebar). Last fall, GC food provider Restaurant Associates’ Regional Manager, Mark Romano, told the Advocate that RA’s pricing decisions were governed by market forces. According to Mr. Romano students could simply go elsewhere in the neighborhood for food if they were unhappy with RA’s services or prices. Mr. Romano reminded the Advocate that although RA is sensitive to the fact that the GC is a public educational institution, RA is a business that needs to remain competitive. Hence, the price of coffee at the GC is the same as the price of coffee in another location where RA provides, the financial giant Goldman Sachs.

Given this unfortunate fact and the Advocate’s continuous interest in the dining options and policies at the GC (see articles in the December edition of the Advocate), we decided to find out what members of the GC community think about the food at the GC.

On Quality
When asked about the quality of the food at the GC, the majority of students we interviewed rated it as either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’. Criticisms focused mainly on the absence of organic food and the composition of the student lunch.

“The quality of the food is quite above average.” (Luana Ferreira, Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Languages and Literatures)

“It’s top notch. The vegetarian options are usually very good.” (Jamie McCallum, Art History)

“I think it’s great. Especially the salad bar and the cookies.” (Ji Young Ryu, English)

“I think it is pretty good. There are a variety of selections, the food is fresh and well-prepared, and is taken from a variety of cultures. This is the first school I’ve been at where professors don’t apologize for taking out-of-town colleagues to the cafeteria for lunch!” (Annelies Kamran, Political Science)
“Remarkably good, especially the entrees and salad bar, though the sandwiches in the ‘Express Café’ are always absolutely flavorless.” (Dominic Wetzel, Sociology)

“Occasionally, the food does taste very good, but that is rare. The selection is very poor, there are no organic choices, and student lunch seems to be designed with high school students in mind, not for discerning adults. A sandwich and a bag of chips? Chips by Lays, to be exact - the company that I know most of my fellow grad students despise.”
(Mariya Gluzman, Philosophy)

“Well, the student menu looks like a joke most the times. I think that for $4.50 they should offer a ‘real’ plate.” (A. Alonso, Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Languages and Literatures)

On Pricing
Most students we interviewed think that prices are too high for food services at a public educational institutiˆon. Also – as expected – the significant increase in coffee prices over the last months annoyed many students. Our interviews about price included one RA employee, who asked that they remain anonymous.

“The quality is fine; the prices are outrageous for a college cafeteria.” (Patricia Ruiz-Navarro, Psychology)

“It’s pricey, particularly coffee – 1.35$ for a small cup is ridiculous! Generally prices of beverages are high. … Back to cheaper coffee!” (Jasmine, Theatre)

“Slightly expensive – for example, I saw another retailer a block away from the GC selling ‘Tea’s Tea’ at a price 50 cents lower than here.” (Ji Young Ryu, English)

“I can get food cheaper around the corner or at Duane Reade.” (Patrick Inglis, Sociology)

“The markup on gum and candy is outrageous. $1.25 for a cup of tea only because I don't have to go outside to buy it? I can use the same argument for why the prices should be lower than they are outside.” (Mariya Gluzman, Philosophy)

“I think it’s great, and the prices are reasonable. I think the coffee, however, is dreadful. I’d prefer some ordinary, working-joe back-office grade coffee to the so-called fancy java they have.” (Arthur Beckman, Political Science)

“After having realized a new increase of prices I decided to have a conversation with Mr. Hunter, the manager of the cafeteria, about their price policy. To my question why prices increase every semester he answered that the price of coffee at the production level is increasing on a daily basis, and so they need to follow suit. He added that other places (for example Starbucks) maintain the same price for a cup of coffee while on the other hand they reduce the portions/quantity of coffee per cup, by for example reducing the size of their cups. In other words, the decision to raise the price of coffee by the managerial staff of the cafeteria was made instead to increase the price maintaining the size of the cups unaltered.” (Anthony Buttaro, Sociology)

“The choices are great. Where else can you get a hot lunch or all veggie meal for under 9$? RA does a good job. When looking at food costs at the GC you need to keep in mind the world we live in. The Tsunami affected the coffee price, floods in Cali affect produce. Cost of food is based on lots of issues if people are upset over rising costs here they should also be upset over rising food costs all over Manhattan.” (RA employee)

Ideas for Change
Last but not least we asked our respondents: What, apart from cutting prices, could be done differently? While most suggestions concerned additional food options and longer opening hours, two students protested that a company with such an atrocious labor rights record as RA should not be allowed to provide food in the GC.

“The schedule is far too restrictive for both the 8th and ground floors. It is designed for the administrative staff and excludes attention to students’ true schedules. The worst thing about the schedule is the fact that the ground floor facility closes too early for students who finish class at 6:15 and want to eat before going to the library. … There should be full food service available on the 8th floor until 4.“ (Aleta Styers, Political Science)

“I’d like to see longer hours of operation. … And what about weekends?” (Annelies Kamran, Political Science)

“It should be open not only when they can make money but when students have to study. It’s not only about business.” (A. Alonso, Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Languages and Literatures)

“Please bring back the wine!” (Luana Ferreira, Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Languages and Literatures)

“Cheaper prices and more sushi – but only if it’s cheap – actually not cheap, just inexpensive.” (Patrick Inglis, Sociology)

“There could be healthier options in the café.” (Robert Wood, Musicology)

“They might not bring the price of coffee down, but there are things as their ‘student lunch’ policy. Why do I have to pick a bag of chips? Could they broader one’s choices? … Or the other day I wanted to have water instead of soda, and nope! that was not allowed. I even asked if I could change my soda for a cup of coffee and that was not a possibility either. Have the soda or leave it was pretty much the choice…. and well, I took the soda against my will.” (Patricia Ruiz-Navarro, Psychology)

“I would like to see greater food choices with perhaps some organic alternatives. Personally, I would like to see Lays, Mars, and some other products be replaced by more socially and environmentally friendly alternatives.” (Mariya Gluzman, Philosophy)
“It should be a totally unionized work force and totally vegetarian kitchen. And there should be rooftop dining available.” (Jamie McCallum, Art History)

“I am really mad about this entire situation. Personally, I am committed to boycott the cafeteria: I am have not bought anything there since the day of my conversation with Mr. Hunter. Especially when considering all the advantages that this company has in operating within the GC; for example the fact that every event that takes place within the GC that entails refreshments must, by contract, be catered by this company.” (Anthony Buttaro, Sociology)

Price for a 10oz cup of coffee
at the GC Dining Commons

Until summer 2004: $1.00

Sept 2004 : 2 choices:
$1.00 for Ritazza coffee
$1.25 for Java coffee

Nov 2004: $1.25
($1.00 option vanished. According to an RA employee, this was because “there weren’t enough cups.”)

Jan 2005: $1.35
(The Tsunamii)