Election '08...right now in '07

If the 2008 presidential election were held today, I would vote for John Edwards. Edwards believes in making what he calls “moral, upstanding decisions.”

However, these morals are not based on a drive to push certain religious views. Whiled Edwards did grow up in a deeply religious home to parents “of the cloth,” he has never once pushed an agenda stating that his personal deity told him to do so (i.e. invade a country). Edwards just does what he believes will protect the rights of everyone and does what is best as a whole.

One of the more important campaign issues for Edwards is his fight for middle class Americans. I come from a middle-class family, so this issues hits home. According to Edwards’ campaign website, “middle class families are struggling. Wages have fallen in recent years even as the economy has grown. At the same time, the costs of necessities like health care, child care, and education have grown. President Bush's tax policies have increased the share of the tax burden borne by middle-class workers. Our economic policies must reward work, help families save for the future, and fight the rising costs of middle-class life.”

Edwards’ plan is for a universal healthcare system. Under this system, everyone is guaranteed some form of medical attention if needed. Families without insurance will get coverage at an affordable price. Families with insurance will pay less and get more security and choices. Businesses and other employers will find it cheaper and easier to insure their workers. After a friend of mine was seriously injured in an accident over the summer, I realized just how important it was for America to have some form of system to take care of those unable to pay extraordinary medical bills charged to the public.

The final large issue for me that Edwards addresses is America’s world policy. Edwards plans to improve America’s image in the world without a total and complete isolationist policy. Edwards’ plans would involve playing a more supportive role in the world, so that possibly the cynical term “World Police” for America might gain a positive connotation. By deploying peace-keeping troops through the United Nations in regions such as Darfur and Uganda and withdrawing a number of Iraqi troops (not a complete withdrawal, mind you), America would vastly improve its image in the world community. This is yet another close-to-home issue for me, because I have a close friend that is heavily involved in work such as Darfur and Uganda and I have become alerted as well to the growing need for America’s aid.

I could have written about “hot button” issues, such as abortion (it is a woman’s choice according to Edwards), gay rights (he supports civil-unions and the right to shared insurance, healthcare, etc), and immigration laws (Edwards is all about equal rights for everyone, but only after work is done to gain citizen status), but I felt those have already been vastly covered in the media and by other people. Don’t get me wrong, these issues are very important (some more than others to me) and they are the core of the decision-making process, but I felt that other issues should be addressed as well – issues that other people may consider insignificant next to “the big three.”

Abortion, Gay Marriage, & War in Iraq

After comparing the positions of all seventeen declared presidential candidates on the issues of abortion, gay marriage, and the current war in Iraq, I will proudly vote for Barack Obama in November of 2008. When comparing the candidates on the issue of abortion, I was shocked and horrified when I learned of the political views of both Chris Dodd and Sam Brownback. Both candidates want to strip women of their choice to choose whether or not to have an abortion. Brownback, a pro-life fanatic, supports the idea that abortion should be illegal even for those women who are rape victims. Dodd, another candidate who also wants to smother the rights of women, takes the position that the courts should make the decision whether or not a woman can get an abortion, solely based on her physical health. I was relieved to discover Barack Obama’s pro-choice view on abortion and the fact that he supports stem-cell research.

The second issue that is important to me when considering a candidate for presidency is gay marriage. I support gay marriage due to the fact that many of my friends are either bisexual or gay. It was no surprise that Brownback stands completely against gay marriage and is in favor of an amendment banning same-sex marriage. Ducan Hunter shares the same view as Brownback. Obama, on the other hand, supports civil unions and does not support the gay marriage ban amendment.

The last concern researched was the current war in Iraq and what the candidates’ views are on our troops returning home. Yet again, Brownback’s ideas conflict with my own. He believes that Iraq will become a terrorist state once more if our troops leave Iraq. Obama, on the other hand, views the war as a careless decision and wants to completely withdraw the troops by March 31, 2008. From all the positions reviewed, Obama is the best choice for the presidential election. However, if Brownback is elected by uninformed voters, I am moving to Canada.

Breaking Ground with Barack

With the 2008 election approaching and several politicians declaring their bid for the presidency, it is apparent that 2008 is an election year unlike any other. For the first time in our nation’s history, the Democratic Party has a woman and an African American seeking a presidential nomination. Being a Democrat, I support many views of Hilary Clinton. However, when it comes to issues dealing with the environment, healthcare, and the War in Iraq, I feel the political views of Barack Obama will be most beneficial to our nation. If the 2008 presidential election were held tomorrow, I would vote for Democrat Barack Obama.

To Barack Obama, "America the Beautiful" is much more than a song title. Keeping America beautiful will rank extremely high on Obama’s political agenda if he is elected president. According to Obama’s official website, he feels we have an obligation “to leave this earth in a better condition than we found it.” To achieve this goal, Obama plans to implicate new environmental laws and policies that will result in healthier communities and a cleaner environment. In an effort to limit pollution, global warming, and our nation’s craving for oil, Obama seeks to unite automobile manufacturers and politicians from both parties to encourage the use of alternative fuels and hybrid energy powered vehicles.

In addition to preserving the environment, Obama also aims to promote healthcare across the nation. America has the best medical technology in the world, yet millions of Americans do not have the resources to access it. Therefore, Obama has placed great emphasis on making healthcare coverage affordable for all Americans. Barackobama.com states that there are 36.5 million poor Americans, and too many of these poor Americans are single mothers struggling to raise their children. The Obama plan will not only require that all children have healthcare coverage, but it will also create a National Health Insurance Exchange, which will create rules and standards for private insurance companies, ensuring reasonable rates. The plan will also force employers to attribute a portion of pay roll to pay for national healthcare costs, but most importantly, every American will be eligible, and no one will be turned away.

Obama’s ideas will clearly preserve the environment and healthcare, but most importantly his ideas will promote freedom. Above all other items on his agenda, Barack Obama has called to bring home our troops, and end the war in the Middle East. As Illinois State Senator in 2005, Obama called for a reduction in the number of U.S. troops, a time frame for a phased withdrawal, and improved reconstruction efforts to restore basic services in Iraq. In 2007, Obama proposed a plan for the removal of all American troops by Mar. 31st, 2008, with the exception of those remaining overseas to serve as “basic force protection.” These troops would counter-terrorism efforts and continue to train Iraqi security forces. Obama expressed his frustration on his website revealing that, “[He is] not opposed to all wars, [he is] opposed to dumb wars….Let’s finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Quaeda , through effective coordinated intelligence…”

Overall, Barack Obama’s ideas to promote a healthier American standard of living reflect his Ivy-League education and eight years as Illinois State Senator. He is more than qualified to assume the position as Head of State. If Obama’s policies were to turn into action America would again be beautiful, our nation would again prosper, and his insightful leadership would ensure life, liberty, and justice for years to come. His views of the environment, healthcare, and the War in Iraq will result in my vote come election day.

The race for '08

As the 2008 Presidential Election continues to inch closer, the one candidate that sticks out as the most capable and sincere to me, is Barack Obama.

Obama, a frontrunner in the Democratic Party, was an Illinois State Senator from 1997-2005. Since 2005 he has been a member of the U.S. Senate representing Illinois. He is just the third African-American to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

If Obama is elected, he will become the first African-American President of the United States. This would make history. This could also help to erase the still invisible lines that cause conflict between some whites and blacks in America. Although Obama is black, he comes from a mixed background. His mother is white and from Kansas and his father is black and from Kenya. “I feel that there is a piece of me in everybody,” Obama said. His varied background is a useful tool on the campaign trail. He appeals to many different people from many different places.

However, his appealing and likeable vibe can also be a problem. “He’s an incredibly magnetic and also photogenic person, and so he lands on the covers of a lot of magazines. And that had its utility at one point, but it can get overdone,” said David Axelrod, Obama’s top strategist. His team fears that he may receive too much publicity and they don’t want him to become overused before the election.

According to Obama’s website (www.barackobama.com), his main issues are to end the war in Iraq, change the healthcare system, fight poverty, and fight for a cleaner environment.

What made me give him my vote is his priority to not change. “I’m in this to win. I want to win, and I think we will win. But I’m also going to emerge intact. I’m going to be Barack Obama and not some parody,” he said. It is astonishing to hear a politician make it his goal not change or be someone he’s not. I believe he would be a great President and a much needed change for America and Washington. I just hope he doesn’t lack the dirtiness that is sometimes needed to land in the White House.

The First Man

The 2008 United States Presidential Election is close to a year away and the question arises, who would I vote for if today was voting day? I am a man that loves to be a part of history. In the next 50 years, I want to know that I witnessed history that no one ever thought conceivably possible. Hillary Rodham Clinton would get my vote. When her husband, Bill Clinton, was in the White House as President, I was a huge fan of the family despite the affair allegations. If elected President, Hillary Clinton would be the first female President in the History of the United States. Not to mention, Bill Clinton’s title would be First Man. Yet again, it would be another history in the making. I’m not sure as to the most important political issues, besides the unimpressive war in the Middle East. I know I should be. I’m American and I should care about my future as well as my families but I get so lost and can never keep up with arguments. I’ve had the privilege to see Hillary Clinton in person and see her speak when Bill Clinton was in office. She spoke a lot about health care issues and social security. Providing affordable health care to all Americans is one of Hillary’s goals as President. This is most appealing goal to me because the cost of health care is an issue for some of my family members. It saddens me to see some of my closest friends and family be rejected to certain health care providers because they can’t afford it, or they have too low of an income. Family is the most important thing to me and I believe Hillary firmly cares about Americans and their well-being. Health care can be hard to afford as I have witness. I grew up influenced by my parents and their views on politics. I was raised liking Bill Clinton, but my parents always thought Hillary would have made a better President. Now that she is running, I believe she could have an even shot to win. According to Alex Massie of the London Telegraph, Hillary is at the top of the poles. He says that pole after pole proves that she is already winning.

Edwards '08

John Edwards, a democratic candidate in the running for Commander in Chief in the 2008 election, is the best choice for president.

Edwards says that poverty, a problem spanning across the globe, is “the great moral issue of our time.” He firmly believes that ending poverty in the United States should be one of America’s top goals, and if people can take responsibility, this goal can be achieved by the year 2036. In order to achieve this goal, Edwards believes that America should enhance their working society. He says that everyone who is able to work should work, and if they do, they will be rewarded. His ideas for rewards include raising minimum wage, creating a million short-term jobs to help those in poverty climb the social ladder, increase workplace safety, and strengthen labor laws.

The issue of illegal immigration is also of high concern to Americans. Edwards says that the activity going on around the Mexican border is unacceptable. He believes that more manpower and technology around the border could crack down on the rate of illegal immigrants who cross over to the United States. Controversially, Edwards says that hardworking illegal immigrants should be allowed to earn their citizenship. However, he believes that they should be required to pay a fine and learn to speak English.

The most pressing issue in the 2008 election is the War in Iraq. Edwards says that there is no possible way that military can control the chaos in Iraq. He believes it is a political issue in which the Iraqi people should take responsibility for their country. He believes that by leaving Iraq, we will force Iraqis and the international community to politically establish a stable government in Iraq. He feels that we need to show Iraq how serious we are about leaving by having an immediate withdrawal of 40,000 – 50,000 American troops. He believes that the government should withdrawal all combat troops within the next year, and that we should train the security forces in Iraq to withhold stability.

Edwards has also developed ideas to improve education, increase health care, reform taxes, and help the genocide situation in Africa. He is clearly an advocate for change, and has taken many steps to prove that these changes could be possible if he were elected to office.

President 2k8

Who will you vote for?

This question is common among Americans as the 2008 United States presidential election is to be taking place in little more than a year. When asked the question myself, I didn’t have much of an answer. It took some research, but I’ve answered the question.

To the United States, the president is the leader. The president is the Head of State, Head of Government, and Commander-In-Chief. He has the power to sign a bill into law or veto bills passed by both houses of Congress. When the country is put into position of conflict the country looks to the president for answers.

Barack Obama is applying for this post.

Barack Obama, 36, is former junior senator of Illinois and is one of the leading Democratic candidates for 2008 presidential elections. He is attracting a lot of attention for his political positions and ideas and to a lot of people seems to be the man who has all the answers.

“I’d vote for Barack Obama to get us out of Iraq and debt,” says Adam Perillo, a student at Piedmont College.

The issues this election are familiar – abortion, gay marriage and global warming. The 2008 election brings new issues for the candidates. From the United States being stuck in the middle of a controversial war with Iraq, to the nation-wide problem with health care, Barrack Obama believes he has the solutions to these problems.

Obama feels abortion should be legal. He also says there is nothing wrong with gay marriage, but feels it should be up to individual states to determine whether it is should be legal.

Obama is for fighting global warming and finding alternative sources of energy. He is also for the use of Nuclear energy. At a hearing statement at the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, he stated that the use of nuclear power is reasonable and realistic to have and should remain on the table for consideration.

Obama spoke about his position for universal health care and how he believed that it is wrong to have million of Americans uninsured. Obama thinks it is important to leave the war in Iraq, but also to leave responsibly. He was an opponent of President Bush’s policies of the Iraq war and if elected to presidency, would phase out the deployment of U.S troops from Iraq.

Barack Obama will be running to be the 44^th president of United States and if elected, will become the first black U.S president.

I will be voting for Barack Obama in 2008 because I think he can make the necessary changes in America for us to move into the future.

Who Would You Vote For?

Due Wednesday, September 19, 2007
If the 2008 presidential election were held tomorrow, who would you vote for? You can choose from anyone who has officially declared his or her candidacy. You must name one choice and defend it with logical reasoning and factual information.

Neilsen "Restraunt"

Neilsen "Restaurant"

Recently, students have been in an uproar about Chartwells, the new food service to Piedmont. However, people should take the time to step back and think before complaints are made without consideration.

Piedmont College pays Chartwells enough money to feasibly produce enough food for 19 meals a day. If a meal is missed by a student, that food has still been cooked. There is no way to call in to the cafeteria and say “Hey, don’t cook food for me today! I won’t be there.”

As for the hours – Chartwells is a business. They are run like one. Aramark should have been run like a business, but it was not. Or rather, it was not run like a legit, functioning business. While the hours are a bit strict and the staff on the dramatic side of “enforcement,” Charwells still is a business and run like one.

They need time to prepare food and keep areas clean. This is understandable. While I do think that three hours to clean and cook is a bit unnecessary when regular restaurants are kept open for hours at a time without closing, regular restaurants have a full rotating staff instead of a small staff Chartwells is forced to hire due to Piedmont’s attempt to turn a profit from something that should not be a business.

Bringing up that subject – Piedmont is attempting to turn a profit from this venture, which is one of the biggest stems of this problem. A dining hall for your college should not be an attempt to make money. Refusing to work with a company in order to change hours so your students do not utilize the meal plans full is underhanded.

I know that managing a college is a business, – that is a whole different topic of discussion I will not go into as of now – but borderline intentionally making your students miss food opportunities or forcing them to adapt to unreasonable requests is underhanded.

Students should take a step back and realize the precarious predicament that Piedmont has placed Chartwells before moaning and complaining about the food service as a whole instead of seeing what their employer is trying to do.

Piedmont Cafateria: Better Food, Worse Service

Returning Piedmont students’ frustration continues over the college’s new cafeteria service hours. As of fall 2007, Chartwells is Piedmont’s new food service, replacing Aramark. With the new service, comes new complaints. Students find the hours of the cafeteria diminished compared to the previous year and are demanding to know why. Being a student of Piedmont for three years, I have felt the pros and cons of the new cafeteria and am also wondering why things are different.

It’s not only the students who are noticing the change.

“It’s healthier food, worst service,” says Dr. Stephanie Almagno to her English class. Dr. Almagno says she feels that students are going to need to rattle some cages and get parents involved if changes are to occur. “We need to address the problems and tackle them with solutions.”

“Students think the problem is simple,” says senior Jennifer Osborne, “in that Piedmont is trying to fit the role of a university school with having hours and specific times on its cafeteria when students can not eat.”

Many students feel that it is Chartwells is to blame in all the controversy. Raised anger was put towards the cafeteria on August 30 when Jamie Ballew, director of food services at Piedmont, agreed to meet with students. One thing was clear however at the end of the meeting, nothing was going to be changed on the hours of the cafeteria. It’s the administration that makes the rules. Chartwells supplies Washington College, a small liberal arts school in Maryland, and its hours differ from Piedmont’s. It is open 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m; six days a week.

With all this being said, the only thing to do is to come to some form of solution now. It’s going to be a long year if they wait any longer to solve the problem.

"Eat, Learn, Live"

Beginning in the fall of 2007, Piedmont College switched food services from Aramark to Chartwells. Chartwells, which follows a creed of “Eat, Learn, Live,” is a division of the Compass Group North American Division. The Compass Group company is based in the UK and has organizations in the United States, Latin America, and Canada. It is a $19.5 billion food service company and in 2006, Fortune magazine named the company as the 12th largest provider in the world.

The motto that Chartwells follows, “Eat, Learn, Live,” focuses on a well-balanced diet that allows students the ability to learn and live a full life. The previous listed creed of “Eat, Learn, Live,” is, according to Chartwells, based on the idea that the “students rule.” Ironically, this creed is not being followed through at Piedmont College. Many students disagree with the operation hours currently being held by the cafeteria and some have even voiced their opinion. However, Chartwells continues to ignore the students’ requests, along with Piedmont College. On Piedmont’s website, there is even a posting saying that the dining hall hours may be “changed as needed to accommodate the needs of the College.”

At Piedmont College, a student ID is required at every meal to gain entrance to the cafeteria. Because of this policy, if any student forgets their ID, then he or she will be denied access. However, the reason for this policy is that if a student forgets their ID and a cafeteria worker signs them in anyway, the computer will not charge the student for the meal.

Compared with other colleges, such as Agnes Scott, the hours that Chartwells keeps is limited. At Agnes Scott, there are approximately 1,000 students and their service provider is “Evans.” Agnes Scott’s cafeteria is open from 7:30 am to Midnight every day. Since college students are very busy running from class to class, it is difficult to catch a few minutes to go to the cafeteria, especially if the cafeteria is closed. The limited hours need to be addressed and improved by Piedmont.

Dining hours: In the student's best interest?

The Piedmont College cafeteria has made a change this year. It began receiving services from Chartwells, a company that provides food to schools throughout the United States.
I’m sure most would agree that Chartwells is step up from past years. Chartwells food is healthier, their service is better, and their facilities are cleaner. Their strive for cleaner facilities and friendlier workers is noble, but what about customer service?
I would love to fully take advantage of these great things, but I rarely get to eat their because of the hours. Most of my classes take place during the hours the cafeteria is open. What am I supposed to do?
In reality I am paying for nothing. Buying a meal plan is not cheap by any means. So why should students get punished because their classes overlap the cafeteria hours?
I understand that the college has a contract with Chartwells, but other schools that they provide service too have more reasonable hours. At Texas State University, seven different dining halls offer hours that range from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday.
The college was right in trying to find ways to better the school and provide we the students with a better quality of food. But they didn’t think of us when deciding on times. Chartwells has said that they stick to the hours they have now so they can keep everything clean. But we’re not asking for it too stay open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, a few extra hours a day couldn’t hurt. If the cafeteria were to stay open an hour later at lunch and dinner, many of the current problems would be resolved.
Overall bringing Chartwells to Piedmont has been in the student’s best interest. But until the cafeteria hours can be altered I don’t know if the students will see the good in it or not.

Lakeside Dining

After arriving at Piedmont College as a freshman this fall, I was forced to adapt to a new way of life. A vital part in this adaption occurred during the meal time hours. I feel that Chartwells Food Service has done an adequate job making this transition easier for most students. My overall dining experience has been fairly pleasant. However, there are several areas that Chartwells could address in order to live up to their full potential. The overall success of a cafeteria is usually based on its service, quality of food, and hours of operation. Therefore, by taking all of these aspects into consideration it will only translate into student satisfaction and a healthy college environment.

In a collegiate atmosphere, it is important to have reputable employees working for the college cafeteria. The disposition of the employees directly correlates with the satisfaction of the customers. Friendly employees will create a friendly dining experience for students, allowing them to escape from their studies momentarily to enjoy a well prepared meal. The Chartwells food service should be praised for the kindliness of their staff. They should be commended for always having a greeter at the door and an assistant at every station to better serve you.

Along with the quality of the staff, I have also been fairly impressed with the quality of the food. I understand that Chartwells is not a five-star restaurant; therefore, I cannot be too critical of the taste of the food. Even though my taste buds have been generally satisfied, there are instances I view as unacceptable such as undercooked chicken and cold pasta. These are problems I feel that the Chartwell staff should address immediately. After all, the food in the cafeteria is not free. As students, we are entitled to three quality meals a day. This problem could be addressed with minimal disadvantage to the Chartwell staff. They could have someone simply taste the foods prior to the foods presentation. It should not be difficult to prevent further discouraging instances. This aside, the food has been fairly pleasing throughout Chartwells commencement this semester.

One major criticism I have towards Chartwells is their hours of operation. Students are forced to base their eating habits around their daily schedules, and it is not uncommon to see students going to class on an empty stomach. I understand that Chartwells offers take out boxes, but even so, it is an extreme inconvenience for students to rush to the cafeteria for the 10 minutes they have between classes. Many athletic schedules also conflict with the cafeteria’s hours of operation. It is Chartwells job as our food service provider to accommodate the needs of all students, not just those who find it convenient to dine during normal meal time hours.

I understand that Chartwells is under contract with the college, however I feel that slight adaptations could be made to better accommodate Piedmont students. For instance, the cafeteria’s main reasoning for closing between meals is to clean, but certainly the cafeteria is not always packed with students and faculty. The cafeteria could operate without closing if they were to clean during the hours where cafeteria traffic is slow. Marietta College in Ohio is composed of about 1,500 students and Chartwells is able to operate non-stop from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. Surely the staff at Marietta cleans at some point during those hours. At Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, three different dining halls operate from 7:30 a.m. to Midnight, Monday thru Thursday. This school of 2,100 students is only slightly bigger than that of Piedmont, yet they find a way to accommodate everyone. The Chartwells staff may argue the inconvenience of providing hot food throughout the day; however, they could consider providing cold snacks such as cereal, yogurt, or fruits. By leaving the doors open between meals, it will provide students who may have missed a meal with the option of healthy snacking throughout the day. Addressing these considerations would be pleasing to many customers, directly resulting in better business for the Chartwells food service.

Cafeteria Hours: Not Satisfying to Students

Chartwells, a popular food service for schools throughout the nation, is now providing their service for Piedmont College, and they have caused an uproar in the student body due to their hours of operation.
Most students would agree that in comparison to previous years, Chartwells provides healthier food in a cleaner environment. The employees are friendly and efficient workers, and the service is satisfying. However, Chartwells opens and closes the dining hall at specific times throughout the day, and their hours are not satisfying to the student population.
Several students have classes during the times that the dining hall is open. When they finally get out of class, Chartwells has closed down the dining hall, and students have missed out on their lunch.
“When I go to class, Chartwells opens up the cafeteria. I get out right after they close, and I’m not allowed in,” says Matthew Hudgens, a freshman mass communications major.
Due to the ranting of Piedmont College students, Chartwells decided to hold a meeting to answer questions and to give explanations for their hours.
According to Chartwells, the cafeteria values cleanliness, which was a major problem with the previous food service. Chartwells said that they close down the cafeteria in-between meals so they can take time to clean the facility.
Chartwells also asked the student body to stop calling the dining hall a cafeteria. Instead, they would rather students to refer to it as a restaurant.
“A restaurant is a business,” said Clayton Bennett, a sophomore at Piedmont. “If they’re going to run it like a business, they need to be open like a business. Restaurants don’t close between meals.”
Chartwells also offers their services at Cleveland State University, where they do not close throughout the day. Their hours are from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. At Illinois College, Chartwells is open from 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Students are paying for meals that they are not receiving. Students have to eat, and many are not able to spend extra money on food each day. The cafeteria hours are depriving students from food they have purchased.
If Chartwells were to stay open an hour extra after their current lunch hours, students would be satisfied. Another solution would be to have a fruit stand, cereal, and fountain drinks available between meals.
Chartwells says they are looking for solutions to their problems related to cafeteria hours. After studying students’ schedules, hopefully they will be open at more convenient times, and the controversy will finally end.

Continuous hours are possible

When it comes to discussing the dining hall situation, I am left with mixed emotions. I must admit, the food quality and choice has increased to the point where I don’t eat the same thing every day. The pricing is also great for our visitors. Chartwells has accomplished many things as far as taking care of their customers; however, the students of Piedmont College are left with distasteful feelings. The question is not, will Chartwells ever open all day for us, instead, how do we adjust our schedule to work with the dining hall in the future? To my amazement, Chartwells is the catering company at Louisburg College. Their operating hours are nearly identical to Piedmont’s with the exception that, at Louisburg, they only close for thirty minutes between breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday. Chartwells also operates at Marietta College where they have continuous hours Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The dining hall management receives a harsh load of complaints from students on a daily basis because the students are not completely satisfied. The students feel as if they are inconvenienced by the operating hours. Whether it is closed after class hours or not operating between some class hours, the students feel they are being treated unfairly. I felt that I didn’t have a say in when the cafeteria should or shouldn’t be opened. Neither did any of my classmates. Who is going to the cafeteria three times a day to eat? The students; so doesn’t it make sense that we should have a say in when the dining hall should operate? After attending the dining hall meeting, the operation hours was clearly the main issue at hand. The students want the dining hall opened all day because they want be able to sit in there between classes to get an apple or fresh water for that matter. However, Chartwells as well as the executives of Piedmont believe leaving the dining hall opened from 7 a.m. to 7p.m. will create a cleansing problem. If that is so, what’s being done to make Marietta’s continuous hours successful? As a student, my solution for this problem between students and the management is to try to work with the students, their customers, in ways that are highly manageable. Maybe opening all day for one week as a trial run could help us see if continuous hours would actually work. It would satisfy the students to see that it was an option.