Volume 124 Issue 94
kansan.com
Friday, February 10, 2012
SHOW ME THE MONEY
CAMPUS
CAMPUS & TOWN
BLESSING AND A CURSE:
Students in food service speak out about what it's like from the other side // JOHN GARFIELD
PHOTO BY JOHN GARFIELD
Heavy homework and odd schedules lead many students to food service in pursuit of a quick, convenient
buck.
By constituting both supply and demand in the industry, students as customers are often not unlike those serving them. In spite of this, many students are still bad customers, according to employees.
To gain perspective on the issue, I interviewed Brett, a KU grad with line-service experience, Emily, a transfer student and waitress, Daniel, a former Haskell student and delivery driver, and Kara, a KU student with waiting and delivery experience.
Given the condition of anonymity, they were able to share candidly without fearing for their jobs.
THE INDUSTRY
When I asked Brett if students sympathize with food-service employees, his response was nothing if not depressing:
"It was clear that people of all ages and social statuses barely view those in the service industry as people, let alone anything like themselves."
Though he admits frequent exceptions to this, the other interviewees, overall, supported his claim.
Kara explained waiting tables as an inherently humbling experience because many regard it as a lowly occupation that defines the employee. This sentiment she explains as especially frustrating when it comes from student customers.
She expresses pride, however, in working her way through school while having to watch other students out having fun. Emily also admits learning a lot about character and integrity from waiting — something she hypothesized the more judgmental folks know little about.
TIPPING
Of all aspects of the employee-custom er relationship, tipping is paramount for servers and drivers.
Though many believe the burden of compensation to lie on management, most servers and drivers are paid below minimum wage. They instead perform services for the customer, where the customer's compensation is essential to their jobs.
Serving wages amount to an entire $2.13 an hour. Drivers, though paid more in the $4-6/hr. range, have to pay for fuel and frequent maintenance. Though stores often supply delivery fees to reimburse fuel, Daniel explains that customers often mistake this for a tip.
For Emily and Kara, it is obvious that being stiffed does not always mean a customer has malicious intent. Many students, they believe, are not aware that they are supposed to tip because their parents have always paid or because of different customs in their native country.
There do, however, exist those who justify not tipping because they cannot afford it. If you ask servers, though, that is tantamount to not having money to eat out or order delivery.
Though perhaps a result of not depending on tips, Brett reminds us that there are sympathetic students who are good tippers and that "it isn't fair to just throw young people and students under the bus."
INTOXICATION
As long as students party, drunkenness will present problems to food service. Surprisingly, the interviewees regarded intoxicated patrons more as wild cards than anything.
"Drunk customers go either way," Emily says, explaining that they are either "super sweet and love you" or "still love you but totally forget to tip."
Brett goes a step further, saying drunks can be entertaining. Emily, as well, acknowledged that, if nothing else, they were good for a laugh.
Though Daniel expresses frustration about catering to the wasted, he reports that they are often good tippers in groups, with stoners being his favorite customers.
As Kara will tell you, however, coordinating deliveries can be tedious when drunk students attempt to yell over parties without knowing their address, phone number or order.
Despite their occasional charm, drunken customers exhibit some nasty tendencies, something Kara knows all too well. At her old job, students would frequently trash the event room with some having actually urinated in the hallways.
BREAKS
Though criticism pervaded the interviews, absence seemed to make hearts grow fonder when it came to school being out.
Emily and Kara express that, as servers their jobs are less stressful when students are gone, but that they ultimately want them back.
This condition, however, proved subject to whether the employee's earnings reflected their tips.
As an hourly line worker, Brett disagreed, proclaiming that "there were nice things about them being in town, but I don't know anyone who didn't adore the time you got to catch your breath when they were gone."
For some, however, a much-needed respite is worth the drop-off in business.
Though, as a delivery driver, Daniel depended on tips, he readily expresses the scorn he developed working for a big chain: "the tips lacked, but I was sane."
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Lawrence police arrested an Ottawa man Wednesday suspected of kidnapping and the robbery of a Lawrence apartment.
Kim Murphree, a police spokesman, wrote in an email that the 23-year-old man was located in Ottawa, brought by the Lawrence Police Department to the police training center during the investigation, and arrested.
According to Douglas County Jail records, the suspect is charged with four counts of kidnapping, three counts of robbery and one count of aggravated robbery. The charges stem from a robbery reported January 10, in which four men robbed an apartment in the Applecroft Apartments at 1734 W. 19th St.
Mack Hartwell, a 19-year-old former University student and victim in the case, was not aware of the second arrest, but recalled the robbery.
The men took cell phones, mar
cash, most of which was located in a safe.
Hartwell said he and his roommates knew the 19-year-old man first arrested by police because he had come over before.
That suspect returned January 10, and when Hartwell heard a knock at the door, the 19-year-old said more of his friends had come
"They were yelling, 'we want all your stuff,' Hartwell said. "They said, 'we have guns, we will kill you.'
"I don't know for sure if they did, but they said they did and it looked like they had them," Hartwell said. "When it's in the moment, you just don't question it."
It was the second arrest made in the case. The LPD arrested a 19-year-old Ottawa man hours after the robbery.
Hartwell heard his friend, who owned the safe, being hit by the suspects while another man stayed with the other four victims.
Hartwell and the others were forced to stay in the bathroom until the men left, and were left without a way to contact the police, because the robbers had taken their cell phones and torn up
As soon as the men entered, all four suspects began yelling and some appeared to have guns.
"They started beating him because he wouldn't open the safe." Hartwell said. "Eventually he did though."
They walked to a gas station and called the police.
Another resident felt Applecroft Apartments should have notified residents of the robbery.
"It's pretty safe here usually," said Danielle Garcia, a University graduate. "But I think they should have notified us, because when something happens, you should be put on alert."
The owners of the apartments declined to comment on the case.
Hartwell thinks the remaining suspects will also be arrested,but said he will remain more attentive.
"I will definitely check out whoever comes over from now on." Hartwell said. "I'm just going to be more careful."
shorten up dance routines and build sets. Some parts of the preparation start even before the fall semester. Around 12 pairs of fraternities and sororities compete in the fall to make it into the final show, but only five are selected.
Edited by Amanda Gage
Then the process becomes even more intense; each group practices is at least an hour per day, which makes it difficult to have a life outside of Rock Chalk.
"It's like you put everything into this," said Hannah Schoeb, a sophomore from Leawood and one of the six directors of Delta Delta Delta and Sigma Nu's show. "I mean, I still did fine in school, but I got an A- and I'm a perfectionist. I've put a lot of my friendships on hold and my relationships on hold."
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Kirk Morrison, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., first participated in Rock Chalk as a freshman as a way to branch out.
"I'm from out-of-state and I was fairly new to the house and the community, so I figured it would be a good way to get to know people," Morrison said. "It turned out to be an awesome experience."
Rock Chalk Revue is on March 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. and March 3 at 5 p.m. at the Lied Center. Tickets are available at the Lied Center box office and website.
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 4
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 9
Edited by Amanda Gage
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