I am writing with reference to recent decisions made by the university administration, as usual without prior consultation with students, faculty and staff.

During the last few weeks I have had a chance to sample the fare in the food court in the Memorial Union and, almost without exception, have found it to be greasy, salty and unappetizing in appearance.

It is also irritating to have to eat it from styrofoam plates with plastic cutlery. Presumably, this way of serving the food saves on labor costs. Why haven’t prices gone down?

Now we are faced with something even worse: a McDonald’s next to the library. Does Iowa State mean business to the extent that it is willing to risk insect and rodent attacks on library books just to earn some extra income from a concession? Of course, the answer is yes.

As far as I can see, there is only one remedy available to our university community. Hit the greedy in their pocketbooks, which are the only places they feel anything.

Boycott these establishments so that expenditures to set them up will exceed the income they generate and they will be forced to shut down.

Edward Pollack

Department of Statistics