Raymond Walters College is a quiet campus and I’m a hell raiser. We were not a match made in heaven. I like to stir up trouble where before there was none. I am the too loud girl debating politics, religion, and philosophy in dusky coffeehouses till the wee hours of the morning, fueled by caffeine and a desire to have the very last word. My mother always said I’d argue with Jesus.
But unfortunately, there’s just not much at RWC to get riled up about.
So, when Ray’s Caf pulled up stakes and left campus and Montague’s moved in, my go go gadget radar went off and I just had to check things out.
A vegetarian trying to make the switch into the non-dairy land of veganism, I discovered a disappointing selection of options for RWC’s resident herbivores on the Montague’s menu and thought, “Aha! Finally! Here’s my chance to rant and rave!”
I set out to cover the scoop on the switch to Montagues admittedly with an agenda in mind. UC is normally such a cash cow machine that I assumed that they gave Ray’s the boot and ushered in the pricey Montague’s, perhaps also welcoming higher commissions from students already strapped for cash from recent tuition hikes.
I set out to write my little saga armed with clever lines about “no taxation without representation!” or perhaps some witty repertoire about the cost of tea in China in describing the coffee prices at Montague’s. I interviewed students asking one-sided questions about what they didn’t like at the new caf.
Was I upset about the vastly unhealthy offerings Montague dishes up on their disproportionately carnivorous menu? Sure. But also, I was saddened in part because I missed Ray’s Caf. I missed Jim the proprietor who always called you “Darling” as you’d get your morning cup of joe. The same staff, day in and day out who worked behind the counter, chatting with you as you’d grab an apple in between classes. How could Montague’s possibly compete with such down home established tradition?
Skulking around the new joint one morning I couldn’t help but overhear the boisterous Montague’s employee Maurice Dobie bantering with customers.
“Have a g’day sweetheart,” he called out good-naturedly to a downcast looking girl who looked as if she needed all the goodwill she could get.
And it struck me. The menu may have changed at the new caf. But some tried and true recipes never go out of style.
It was then that I changed my angle. And I set out to get the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God. And this is what I found.
In June of this year, RWC received a letter from the Association for the Blind advising school officials that they would no longer provide the college with food service, taking with them all their equipment, including the microwaves.
The college was then left with a dilemma. If they accepted bids to allow for a competitive and or/ comparative caf, the process might have taken several months to conclude and food service would not have been available at the start of fall quarter. The decision was made to bring in University Dining Services – already in place at main campus – in order to have food services available for the hungry student by the start of class on day one.
That’ll be one helping of humble pie, please.
After discovering no dastardly ulterior motive on behalf of UC, I next set out to speak to Montagues employees and found them to be more than accommodating. Gary Schnur, Manager of the Montague’s Caf said he would be willing to make up a salad without cheese (as long as he wasn’t deluged by customers in line). He also tries to cut students a price break every once in a while by offering deals such as burritos for a buck and drink refill specials (just ask for details.)
Make that seconds on that pie.
I then interviewed students again, asking questions in a more neutral tone and found more favorable responses than before. Yes, most students think the prices are outrageous at the new caf but they also love the pizza that is offered there, an item that Ray’s Caf never offered.
Dare I ask for a third slice?
As for the lack of vegetarian offerings, school officials advise me that surveys will be distributed in November to gauge the student body’s interest in possibly offering more menu selections. And, students also can always make suggestions to the Student Services office, I discovered.
Just pass me the whole pie.
I started off intent on writing a story about vegetarianism, about school greed, and an ending to a quaint tradition and the ushering in to a seemingly commercialistic McDonalds’s like fast food chain within RWC.
But somewhere along the line, the story got skewed, the plot thickened. And I learned a little something extra about such things like fair coverage, truth in reporting, about ethics and non-biasness. In short, I’m beginning to learn about being a true journalist.
So, Montague’s may not offer up a veggie burger on its menu. What I got instead was much more fulfilling.