By: Jennifer Ortiz
Gardner-Webb’s Student Government Association (SGA) announced on Tuesday that Chick-fil-A’s popular Chick-n-Minis will make their debut as a breakfast option on campus at the beginning of the spring, 2016 semester.
Students have discussed a desire to have the “consistently most popular breakfast item” at Chick-fil-A Express since the beginning of this semester, according to sophomore David Cole, who serves as the chair of SGA’s SLESH committee (Student Life, Expectation, Safety and Health). The addition of a limited Chick-fil-A breakfast in the fall of 2015 resulted in the loss of Sodexo’s Simply to Go in the Dover Campus Center.
“The introduction of an expanded menu at Chick-fil-A is meant to counterbalance the loss of that option. We made it known to Wayne Johnson, head of campus operations, that this was something that the menu should include since we lost Simply to Go and have [a] strong demand for it,” said Cole. “He was able to channel the need to Sodexo representatives who realized that other Chick-fil-A Express locations have minis. The process was very easy for the committee overall.”
SGA’s announcement on Facebook yesterday has received 23 likes and 5 shares as of noon today, and the responses have been positive.
“It’s a great addition to the breakfast options here at GWU! I love having a biscuit in between classes, and now I can grab chicken minis to enjoy as well,” said Erick Hooker, senior Public Relations major.
However, a quick swipe through the anonymous social media app, Yik Yak, shows that some students believe there to be much more important student concerns. The comment reads:
Who cares about a new menu item at chick-fil-a how about free printing in tucker, taking care of the poop smell, more meal exchange options and a place to get medical attention
Cole commented that SLESH, as well as the rest of SGA, tries to accurately evaluate student needs by taking note of student complaints and suggestions. The key to gauging what students want, said Cole, is receiving “good, specific feedback” from the student body. He added that SGA often struggles to get an accurate perception of what the majority of students want because what some students see as a gain, other see as a loss.
“[SGA] determines a hierarchy of action based on how closely and immediately the action will impact the student experience,” Cole said. “For instance, a health and safety concern would take precedence over an aesthetic concern.”
Cole adressed each of the anonymous Yakker’s concerns in an email. He said that one way SGA can limit the sewage smell is to schedule the truck that pumps out the buildup to come on weekends or evenings. A medical clinic on campus “didn’t seem necessary to justify a tuition raise, with Minute Clinic at CVS being a short walk away,” and SGA plans to discuss printing in Tucker next semester.
Cole also added that there were also a lot of people on Yik Yak who like the idea of Chick-n-Minis. Despite a negative comment on an anonymous app, Chick-n-Minis will be another way for students to spend their flexpoints next semester, and SGA will continue to consider the voices of the student body.
“The SLESH committee is full of great people this year that really have a passion for Gardner-Webb,” said Cole. “This won’t be the last time you’ll see SLESH trying to get things improved on campus.”
