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The Chronic!^ THE INDEPENDENT DAILY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY
ARAMARK:
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Here to stay? With vendor s contract expiring in June 9 officials ponderpast, future Rob Copeland THE CHRONICLE
by
ARAMARK, Corp., has had anything but an easy run at Duke. As the University’s main food provider for the past five years, the Philadelphia-based news company has faced critianalysis isms from students and administrators alike, Now, with ARAMARK’s contract approaching its June 30 expiration date, concerns about a potential renewal are growing louder. “They haven’t fulfilled the students’ needs,” said Tallman Trask, executive vice president of the University. Complaints about subpar food and weak management are among the major issues that have plagued a company that Jim Wulforst, director of Dining Services, once heralded as “cutting edge.” Wulforst is now singing a different tune—admitting that bringing ARAMARK to campus was a mistake, asserting that the administration should have been tougher on the provider and questioning his own future with Dining Services. “I feel like I’ve brought in a company that can’t do its job,” he said.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST YEAR, ISSUE 81
TENNESSEE 53
TENNESSEE TAKEDOWN Duke dismantles No. 1 Lady Vols to stay perfect
But Fred Bissinger, the re*, dent district manager for ARA MARK, claimed the curre dining situation is a success “People coming in the door and eating with us Oj a regular basis gives me th biggest positive indication thr they like the food,” he said. It will ultimately be up Kernel Dawkins, vice preside* for campus services, and Tras to decide ARAMARK’s fate. Dawkins said a renewal < the contract is “unlikely” hi noted that making any final decisions at this time would
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“We’ve told them we’re un v
sponded unevenly.”
A controversial arrival Five years ago, when thu University first proposed associating Dining Services with major company, support fi the idea was mixed. But when Duke chose ARA MARK, Wulforst was confident in the decision. “Everybody was afraid of aligning Duke with a big food conglomerate. There’s nothing to fear here,” Wulforst told The Chronicle in 2001. He recendy recalled that the University was looking for a company with an international SEE ARAMARK ON PAGE 6
Andrew Davis
THE CHRONICLE
“premature.”
happy,” Trask said. “They’ve
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JESSICA SCHfiEIBER/THE CHRONICLE
Freshman Abby Waner and juniorLindsey Harding celebrate theBlue Devils' 75-53 rout of top-ranked Tennessee Monday night in Cameron indoor Stadium.
Tennessee isn’t used to being on this end of a blowout. The Blue Devils destroyed the Lady Vols, 75-53, in the most lopsided victory between the top two teams since 1994. Most fans expected a close result with both teams owning perfect 18-0 records entering the game and outscoring their opponents by an average of more than 23. “We just got our butts kicked,” Lady Vols freshman Candace Parker said. “Tennessee is about heart, and we didn’t show it.” Duke (19-0) used superior depth to wear down Tennessee (18-1) in the second half, outscoring the Lady Vols 45-30 over the final 20 minutes. “Losing is one thing, losing the way we lost is something quite different,” Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt said. “It’s unacceptable in this program. We SEE W. BBALL ON PAGE 13
Merchants seek Duke Card review by
Gregory Beaton THE CHRONICLE
University officials are working on a plan to increase DukeCard flexibility off campus, but the local group that requested the review is upset with how long it is taking. Vice President for Campus Services Kernel Dawkins said he is working with various administrators, including officials from Dining Services and the DukeCard Office, to respond to complaints made in October about the limitations of the DukeCard and the Merchants on Points program. Duke officials said they were working on remodeling the DukeCard based on card programs at other schools, such as the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
ARAMARK, which operates the Great Hall on West Campus and variousother eateries, has been subject to students' and administrators' criticisms in recent years.
“We are looking at options for providing additional flexibility and additional opportunities for purchases on and off campus,” Dawkins said, noting that there was no specific date set for a new plan’s announcement or roll-out. “We are looking at changes to the DukeCard as part of that,” he added. John Schelp, president of the Old West Durham SEE DUKECARD ON PAGE 5
ALEXANDRA BROWN/THE CHRONICLE
A new OukeCard could let students use points at local businesses like Elmo's Diner, a popular restaurant on Ninth Street.