Photo by Taylor Cox
Twenty-four is not the number of items you can pile on your sandwich at C-Club. It’s not the number of delicious beverages provided for your consumption, and it definitely isn’t the amount of toppings on a slice of Papa John’s pizza.
Twenty-four is the number of things the Marion County Health Department found unsanitary or unfit within C-Club during health inspections this August.
If that’s not enough to turn your stomach and shrink your appetite, then maybe the combined 64 health violations that dining halls at Atherton Union, Residential College and C-Club obtained can do the trick.
Not only is this disgusting, but it is unbelievably unsafe and unsanitary—especially considering residential students are forced to eat at these dining facilities for nearly every meal and the student affairs division insists on enforcing its non-solicitation policy that prohibits other food vendors from coming to campus.
These facilities should be kept spotlessly clean to protect the health and safety of students and others who eat there.
Juniors and seniors with cars can go off-campus, make their own snacks or share dinners with friends. They aren’t trapped in the labyrinth of dining services’ health violations.
But let’s think of the freshmen and sophomores who have no other options.
These students are subjected to the monopoly that is Aramark dining services.
It is only fair that the food served to these students is safe, well-cooked and bacteria free to prevent illness.
“Having gotten sick last year from what I think was dining hall food, I think it is extremely important for on-campus food services to do the best they can to keep meals safe for students,” sophomore exploratory business major Kevin Patel said in The Collegian article “Dining services doesn’t fare well in health inspections” (Sept. 28).
It is a cruel Catch 22—er, Catch ‘24’—to give students limited options to eat on campus that rack up 64 health violations between them in an inspection.
It’s saddening to think that at college, which is described as a student’s ‘home-away-from-home,’ that food options can’t be trusted.
In a realm of constant tests, essays and endless reading, students need to be able to trust their food, at the very least.
Being wary of dining safety is the university’s responsibility, not students’.
Aramark corrected many of the violations at the time and said in a emailed statement, “We have rigorous quality assurance and food safety processes, and we are committed to continuously enhancing them.”
While it is good that they addressed the issues, the goal should be to prevent problems before they happen.
And if the division of student affairs is insistent on enforcing its non-solicitation policy to prevent food trucks from coming to campus and giving students alternative lunch options, then they need to make sure their food is a truly safe option.
Students don’t need to stage an all-out boycott of Aramark food, but the powers that be should ensure that everyone who eats it is safe.
Health violations at C-Club this year
According to an inspection held by the Marion County Health Department on Aug. 17
- Potentially hazardous food(s) not held at proper temperatures.
- Potentially hazardous cold foods not held at proper temperatures.
- Toxic materials improperly stored.
- Food is unsafe and/or in unsound condition.
- Food contaminated by miscellaneous source.
- Physical facility not maintained in good repair.
- Equipment is need of repair.
- Foods are uncovered.
- Non-food contact surface(s) soiled.
To see how more of your frequent dining spots fared, visit http://www.indystar.com/data/public_safety/food_inspect.shtml
