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University Daily Kansan
Thursday, May 2, 1957
About Union Food
Recently while eating at the Student Union Cafeteria, it occurred to me that I didn't have much food on my plate for the price I had paid for it.
Right then I decided to do a little checking and see how the Union food prices compared with other eating places.
When I began to have trouble comparing the prices I spoke to a Student Union official who described everything to me on the basis of the following chart. It shows the break-down of the dollar in a commercial restaurant and the breakdown of the dollar in the Union.
Commercial Restaurant Union
Food costs ... 35-40c Food costs ... 50c
Labor costs ... 35-40c Labor costs ... 35c
Maintenance costs Maintenance costs ... 10c
... about 10c Social security, utilities,
Social security about 2c and replacement of
equipment and upkeep
Profit ... about 15c for the building ... 5c
You can see that one major difference between the Union and the commercial restaurant is the food cost and profit. Out of every dollar you pay for food at the Union, 50 cents is for food, from 10 to 20 per cent more than for food at a commercial restaurant. Thus students should get more food for their money. That the Union makes no profit is another difference.
One of the major prices that disturbed me after looking at this chart was the price of milk. Milk at the Union is 18 cents a pint, compared with 19 to 22 cents a quart in the grocery stores in Lawrence.
When I questioned the Union official about the milk price he explained it this way. The Union pays $10\frac{1}{2}$ cents a pint wholesale. This means that according to the previous chart, a pint should be selling at 21 cents. However, when I asked him if it actually cost $10\frac{1}{2}$ or even $7\frac{1}{2}$ cents, the margin the Union is making on milk now, to serve it, he replied that it probably took no more than 4 cents but the profit made on milk was returned to the students by charging less for some other food items.
Next, I questioned him about some of the prices on other food items, such as pork chops. The price for one pork chop in the Union is usually around 38 cents.
However, in downtown Lawrence, in one of the larger restaurants, you can buy a pork chop dinner for only 90 cents. This includes two pork chops, a salad, french fries, a vegetable, bread
and butter. Some restaurants give you a choice of a drink with the meal.
In comparing this with the Union I found out that two chops would cost 75 cents, a salad 15, potatoes 10, a vegetable 10, and bread and butter 6. It would add up to $1.13, without a drink.
Then I questioned the Union official about some of the other prices which appeared a little high. I asked him about the price of 25 cents for the Union hot dog. The official figured it cost about 10 or 11 cents for the Union to buy and prepare the hot dog. Why the extra few cents profit then? He explained it as being a little premium put on such things as hot dogs, which are considered luxury items by the Union.
The same explanation was given for jello salads. They sell for 14 cents, but cost only about a nickel to prepare. He said the salad was looked upon by the Union as a luxury item for the student and consequently a little more is charged for it to make up for the money lost on other foods.
On the other hand, potatoes were the only item which cost more for the Union to buy and prepare than what they were sold for. Since potatoes are only one item, it would appear that the Union is not losing so much on potatoes alone that it must make that much more on other food items.
According to the Union official, the aim is to bring the student food essentials, such as meat and potatoes, at a lower price and with a bigger serving. However, after looking at the figures and comparisons, the student may find some conflicts.
The official said prices are set by the Student Union Board, which is comprised of the dean of students, faculty members, and students. Union officials present the board a set of proposed prices and it in turn makes its decision, along with recommendations from the Union officials.
It would appear that the chart by which the Union operates is not too closely observed at times. Or perhaps the Union is running on an extremely close budget and finds is necessary to raise prices on some foods to balance its budget.
The Union official suggested that very close contact is kept with other surrounding unions and that prices are closely compared.
However, I am sure KU students are not interested in keeping prices in line with those of other unions. Their primary interest is food quantity, quality, and price.
—LeRoy Zimmerman
'Critics' Circle Awards'
Each year, members of various departments and organizations convene, eat swiss steak, and congratulate each other on the success of their activities and accomplishments. The University Theatre is no exception.
Tonight, students of the drama will gather in the Student Union to exchange the traditional "Oscars" for work done in the theater. It is a family affair and therefore highly subjective. As in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, choices are often based upon quantity, not quality of performance, sometimes on cooperation and personality rather than creativity. The entire system of awards at this tender age serves only to inflate egos; good acting potential is made vain and the untalented are deluded.
Since there is no escape from this inexhaustible stockpile of laurel wreaths, the Critics' Circle feels obligated to acknowledge what it feels are the year's best performances, lest they be lost in the shuffle or forgotten.
Space does not permit a definition of "acting," but judging from the diversity and difficulty of his assignments, the Best Actor this season was Dale Bellerose. He gave us memorable scenes as a drunken salesman in "Glory in the Flower," as Throttle-bottom in "Of Thee I Sing," and as the pathetic tramp in "Waiting For Godot."
Our choice as the Best Actress of the year is Miss Joyce Elliott for her warm portrayal of the old maid in "The Rainmaker."
May we have the envelopes, please?
The Best Supporting Actor was Thomas Hill as the realistic brother in "The Rainmaker." The Best Supporting Actress was Sonja Flournoy as the selfish sister in "The House of Bernarda Alba."
As the Best Character Actress and Actor, we make our bid for Jane Quaid as the venerable housekeeper in "The House of Bernarda Alba," and for John Branigan for his caricature of the old sheriff in "The Rainmaker."
During the course of 10 major productions, there have been momentary flashes of brilliance. Special recognition should be given to members of the University Theatre staff who have shown their technical abilities as well as their artistic imagination.
The two best single performances of the year, based on one appearance only, were William Kuhlke in the title role of "The Rainmaker," and Donna Fink for her difficult hysterical scene in "Darkness At Noon." A special award goes to Ted Teichgraeber for versatility and improvement in directing the University Players' melodrama, acting in three plays, and general production achievement.
Undoubtedly the best play of the year was the recent "Waiting For Godot." An excellent drama is where one finds it. Which only proves that a large stage and mechanical gimmicks are not substitutes for imagination. For this achievement our vote for the best stage direction of the season goes to Allen Crafton.
Our thanks and appreciation go to E. Arthur Kean for the best lighting design and the most imaginative set decoration in "Thieves' Carnival." This play also gave us the best costuming of the year: the colorful creations of Jane Quaid.
These and many more too numerous to mention, such as production crews and audiences, have created for us the magnificent illusion known as theatre. It has made its appeal to our emotions, often filling us with nostalgia and sometimes with neuralgia. But no one can deny it has been an interesting season for all concerned. Audiences have enjoyed the fair and the foul. Artists have enjoyed experimenting. Everyone has learned something. Should anything more be expected from an educational theater?
—Tom Sawyer
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas student newspaper
1904, trivello 1906, daly Jan. 16, 1812.
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