Students challenge ASUCLA
By Sandhya Ravikumar
Oct. 28, 2004 9:00 p.m.
After serving UCLA students for 10 years, Taco Bell is scheduled
to close its doors today, but some students refuse to say goodbye
to the popular campus eatery.
Third-year European studies and economics student and Daily
Bruin local display sales manager Matt Jacobs is trying to
reinstate Taco Bell with a petition, which he said about 1,000
people signed this week.
Jacobs said the decision by the Associated Students of UCLA to
not renew Taco Bell’s contract when it expires Sunday does
not represent student interest.
“The majority of UCLA students want Taco Bell to stay. It
is such a consensus belief. ASUCLA is representing a small group of
people,” he said.
ASUCLA’s board of directors voted to replace Taco Bell
following repeated allegations of labor abuse within the
company’s tomato suppliers at a special meeting on Oct. 22.
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which represents the tomato
pickers, had asked UCLA to end its contract with Taco Bell until
labor conditions improved.
“Taco Bell could not prove that they were not engaging in
unfair working practices,” said undergraduate representative
Yousef Tajsar. “ASUCLA adheres very strongly to issues of
social responsibility.”
Tajsar said he also considered students before voting to not
renew Taco Bell’s contract, and said they still had cheap
food options on campus.
Jacobs said the main issue is ASUCLA’s commitment to
students.
“I’m not trying to morally equivocate what Taco Bell
is doing, but ASUCLA has obligations to the students here, not to
farm workers out of the state,” he said.
Other supporters of the petition include the Bruin Republicans,
whose Vice Chairman Nicholas Louw said Taco Bell is being wrongly
targeted.
“The motivations for kicking out Taco Bell are skewed. We
should be targeting the tomato vendor company that underpays
workers. Taco Bell doesn’t set wages,” he said.
While the petitioners said they realize Taco Bell will close
today despite their efforts, they hope to spread awareness to
students and make a difference in the long run.
“I think if enough exposure is given to this, it will
force ASUCLA to re-evaluate their priorities and consider the
reinstatement of Taco Bell,” Jacobs said. He believes this
issue is a “microcosm of the bigger picture” ““
the student majority being underrepresented by the student
association.
Louw said he hopes the petition will influence the ASUCLA board
in the future, and said Bruin Republicans and Bruin Democrats will
unite to support board candidates who allow eateries such as Taco
Bell to stay on campus.
“We will capitalize on this mistake and get students to
unite against non-mainstream special interests,” Louw
said.
Taco Bell is currently one of the most popular campus eateries,
and some students said they will miss its affordability and
convenience.
“(Taco Bell) is the only fast food place we have
that’s cheaper compared to the places at Ackerman,”
said second-year biology student Golnaz Namdar.
The low price of items also enabled students to use meal coupons
from the residential halls, which can be redeemed for $1.85 for one
meal-plan swipe. But, some students also support the decision to
replace Taco Bell.
“I don’t believe in (Taco Bell) staying open. Taco
Bell had its chance to remedy the tomato pickers (issue),”
said fourth-year history and art history student Jasmine
Hernandez.
A sandwich restaurant will replace Taco Bell starting Monday.
Also, a taco restaurant with similar prices to Taco Bell will open
in the Cooperage.
“We are going to try to work very hard to provide
food-source options for (the students),” Tajsar said.
