University of Virginia Library

Food Services, Council Agree
To Formal Contract Plan

By CHRIS KOHAN

To avoid misunderstandings
over cafeteria services, a formal
agreement between students
choosing contract cafeteria and
the University Food Services
will be implemented next fall.

An increase in cost for the
services will also be put into
effect next year, due to rising
wages and an effort to improve
the quality of cafeteria food.

In a meeting held Monday,
Student Council
representatives and Food
Services Director Bernard C.
Fontana agreed to sponsor a
formal contract which,
according to Council
President-elect Larry Sabato,
"will provide the student with
a better idea of what he's
getting for his money and
prevent major cutbacks of
foodstuffs."

Promotional Material

The contract will be drawn
up by Council members and
Food Services and sent to
students during the summer
along with the usual
promotional material they
receive from Food Services.

Mr. Sabato said "the
contract will basically outline
what individuals can expect in
the way of foodstuffs." This
year, student criticism was
leveled at the unexpected
closing of the open salad bar
and the installation of a seven
item limit at breakfast.

However, "an escape clause
dealing with improvements will
also be included," Mr. Sabato
said. If Food Services does
decide to innovate, they will be
able to do so but only with the
approval of the Council's Food
Services Committee, currently
chaired by Taylor Putney.

Students will bind
themselves to the contract for
the entire year, though the
practice begun this year of
arranging specified times for
fair exchanges will be
continued.

Formal Contract

Mr. Fontana said, "If we
are going to come out with a
very formal type of contract,
it's highly unlikely we would
let students be released from
it."

Students electing contract
cafeteria will face not only a
formal agreement but an
increased cost, according to
Mr. Fontana. He said he has "a
rough idea." of the amount of
the increase but declined
comment on any exact figures.

Reason For Raise.

Mr. Fontana gave as one
reason for the hike "the
substantial increase granted to
all state employees," which
affects the students' food
costs. Mr. Sabato said,
"Inflation itself would indicate
an increase."

"All prices in the smaller
facilities, such as the Glass Hat
and the Castle, must also go
up," Mr. Putney said.