OPINIONS

Three years ago, I was hit with news that changed my life forever: cancer. My doctor put me on a strict diet to help me get through chemotherapy, and I still try to follow it as a freshman living on campus. The problem is, no one at FAU can tell me the nutritional value of the food here.

Freshmen living in the dorms are required to purchase a meal plan, so I eat most of my meals at the Chartwells Center Marketplace — the buffet-style dining hall mainly for residents on the Boca campus. I spoke with the Chartwells resident district manager, Greg Moran, on how they try to help students with food restrictions.
“We are willing to look at what food items students [with medical issues] are looking for or have recipes of, and we try to accommodate their needs,” said Moran.

I cannot eat food if I do not know what is in it. My usual meals consist of a salad and water, or a deli sandwich if I have the time to wait 20 minutes for them to make it. Lately, I just come back to my dorm and make myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, made from all-organic ingredients.
“I’m stuck in the same boat,” said Monica Mitry, a freshman psychology major, whose religion is Coptic Orthodox, which restricts her diet. “I cannot eat certain foods throughout the year because of my religion, and I am tired of being limited to the same food every day. We need a variety.”

Tiffany Wade, the Chartwells Center Marketplace dining hall manager, believes differently.
“The three-week cycle works very well here at the Center Marketplace, and it gives our students a different variety to choose from every week,” said Wade.

When I asked where I could find the nutrition information on the food served in the cafeteria, I was referred to the FAU Dining Services Web site, www.dineoncampus.com/FAU. However, it does not mention any ingredients or nutrition facts of the food served in the Center Marketplace.

On the Web site, it even says, “Food offered on campus may not directly reflect the stated values of similar or like items [listed on the Web site].”

This nutrition information should be provided for students.
“I just want to know what I’m eating. I don’t like my chicken greasy,” said Theresa Harteneck, a freshman business major.

I wanted to know if I could bring in my own ingredients and have a cook make something from them.
“We cannot take food from students and cook it in our facility,” said Greg Moran.

I do have the option to cancel my meal plan due to medical reasons. But putting myself through college gives me limited funds, and lacking the transportation to go buy food, this is not really a practical option for me.

I tried to contact Marty Ball, the Boca campus resident dining director, on multiple occasions. I never heard back from him, and Moran answered the e-mails I sent to Ball.

I was reluctantly informed that I could e-mail what I plan to eat each day, and could be informed how it would be cooked, or what ingredients would be in it.

As if dealing with cancer is not enough of an inconvenience, FAU expects a busy college student to do homework every time before he eats.