New dining service provider still not selected

by R. Anthony Thurman
Staff Writer

Three months following the dining services proposal committee meeting, the University of La Verne's choice for a new food service provider is still up in the air, leaving students uninformed.

According to Greg Marer, manager for Aramark, ULV's present food provider, the new food service provider should be known within the next week.

The selection process began on February 19 when the dining services proposal committee met to sort through potential candidates who replied to a "Request for Proposals" sent out by the university.

Four food service providers are currently considered. Aramark is still a candidate for the new food service contract, along with Chartwell, Sodexho and Bon Appetit.

Each applicant has submitted their proposals and presented their ideas to ULV.

If Aramark is chosen, Marer has wishful intentions of fulfilling the demands of the students and improving the look of Davenport.

"I look forward to implementing the changes to the school to really serve the students," Marer said.

"I want more of a restaurant feel, I want everyone to say 'wow' when they walk in next year."

The likelihood of Davenport having a new look to go along with its new provider is possible, considering that whoever is awarded the new contract is likely to have changes in mind.

Yesterday the dining services proposal committee, led by Dean of Student Affairs Loretta Rahmani, met with the president and Vice president of ULV to narrow down possible candidates and discuss contract negotiations.

Rahmani is very anxious to get the process underway and insists that everything is going smoothly.

"The dining services committee has gone through a very thorough and extensive process,"Rahmani said.

"I feel very good about the process and I feel we will be making a decision on very good information. We hope to have an announcement soon."

Along with certain changes will, come a change of management, but at the present time the future of the current Davenport crew still lays in the balance.