Berkeley Students Protest Panda Express
About 40 UC-Berkeley students protested the possibility of a Panda Express fast-food kiosk in a campus food court, the Daily Californian reports. Critics say that the chain restaurant represents a trend that will push out smaller local businesses, and they say Panda Express does not adhere to sustainable practices or cater well to vegetarians. "This is a fast-food chain coming to the UCB campus," said one student, who supports the installation of a food co-op in the space. "I think this is a huge step in the wrong direction."
Representatives of Panda Express have promised to add more vegetarian options and offer biodegradable packaging, but protesters have called the gesture "a joke."
Meanwhile, student government officials say the majority of students support the contract with Panda Express, revenues from which will also help alleviate a budget crunch for the student government. One official said the restaurant would be the second-largest revenue source for the organization after the bookstore.
Tags: colleges | activism | UC-Berkeley
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A Student from UC Berkeley
A food chain's business is more than just about feeding you. It is about the exploitation of farmers, animals, and lower-tier workers for the bulging of corporate bonuses. Also, the revenues generated by a food chain on our campus will leak out of Berkeley and into the headquarters outside of our city, thus creating yet another negative impact to local businesses and communities.
Food
OMG! If you don't like the food...don't eat it. With all that is going on in the world Berkeley is worried about what restaurant to eat at. That's hysterical! This is a joke right?
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