‘ExcellGnce Through Truth and DGclication
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Volume LI.Number23
www.theseahawk.org
March 1.2000
Inside
This
Issue...
IjM (\
Sfife, Hfippy
Spuing EaeAicI
Look for m
on
March 15.
Reliving your prom
Dance Marathon raises money
for Duke Children’s Hospital/11
•*
. -A'
Seahawkt sink PiratM
Men’s basketball season ended
with rout of ECU. Blizzard sank
five 3-pointers in the win/17
1 INDEX
1 Campus News ....«••» 3
1 University
..7
1 Classifieds............
1 OP/ED
10
1 The Scene...
.12
m
Aramark, Marlott compels for food contract
by SOMER STAHL
Staff Writer
In presentations last week, Mariott Food Services emerged as a
strong competitor against Aramark for the food service contract for
the 2000-2001 school year.
Every five years distributor contracts terminate and new com
panies, as well as the old one are able to bid on the job.
Aramark, the university’s current food distributor, and Mariott
Food Service both bid for the new contract on Monday, Feb. 28.
According to Student Government Association (SGA) Secretary
Travis Tice, the UNCW Food Service Review Board has listened
to proposals made by Aramark, and has named them along with
Mariott “the main bidders out of all other distributors.”
Aramark and Mariott are currently the highest ranked food com
panies in the nation.
“Just because Aramark is the current food service provider, I
think both presentations should be equally considered and the de
cision based on merit,” Tice said.
Aramark’s proposal centered around proposed improvements on
current food services. Director of Aramark Food services Tom
Williamson said the company’s main focus will be on the Hawk’s
Nest renovation over the next couple of years. This construction
will make the facility larger and thereby able to offer a greater va
riety of foods. Williamson said the company is also hoping to offer
more flexible meal plans that can attract commuter students.
Aramark’s proposal also deals with changes to Wagoner Dining
Hall, such as more visual cooking and an emphasis on freshness.
Mariott is also looking to improve upon what is already being
offered as far as food distribution is concerned. Tice said that
Mariott’s proposal offers authentic cuisine and a “home meal re
placement idea.”
“Students who have a late class or a late game can stop at Wag
oner and pick up pre-packaged, single meals to pop into their mi
crowaves,” Tice said.
Mariott has also proposed the idea of ethnic cuisine in Wagoner
and expansion in the Hawk’s Nest based on the idea of a food court
concept.
Mariott has proposed the idea of tuition/text book scholarships
This display was part of Mariott’s proposal to take over
food service at UNCW. The decision will be made this
week on who will provide service next year.
for their student employees as well.
“What’s truly impressive is that thirty-five percent of Mariott’s
current management worked in the kitchen during their college ca
reers,” Tice said.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill currently em
ploys Mariott as their food service provider.
“I’ve heard that Mariott’s proposal was outstanding,” said SGA
President Patrick Gunn, “but I must say that I appreciate the efforts
Aramark has made over the past year or so to improve food service
on campus. Tom Williamson has been very supportive with the com
ments made by SGA and other students. I do think, though, that we
are lacking creativity and we need more emphasis on the student popu
lation as a whole from our food distributor.”
With the current food service contract expiring in June, the Food
Service Review Board will make a decision as soon as possible, well
before the end of the semester.
“My friends have said that UNCW has the best food out of any of
the other colleges that they’ve visited. We have a lot of choices, lines
are quick and there’s always something you can find that you’ll prob
ably like,” said freshman Jen Johnson.
Hurricane evacuation/preparedness procedures re-evaluated
of tUa T artA “Hi irrir'anA Pr¥»narpHnPCC thp T nrj^l T PVPl ”
^ by HEIDI BING
News Editor
Nearly six months after Hurricane Floyd’s arrival
in North Carolina, the Cape Fear region is still re
covering fix)m the devastation of the storm s floods.
The effects of Floyd coupled with tlie fact that '
city of Wilmington was hit with three storpis wii
a span of eight weeks, has drawn attention to n
for hurricane awareness and safety campaigns ani
the reevaluation of standard procedures in emei^ency
situations.
Last week, representatives from across the coun
try conveiged on campus for “Hurricane Prepared
ness 2000: Lessons Learned,” a conference focus-1
ing on preparedness at the nation, statewide, and locall
level. [Radar
House of Representatives Congressman Mike
McIntyre opened the conference, which took place in the Warwick Center
Ballroom from 9 am. to 3:30 p.m.
The event featured a keynote address from Jeny Jarrell, retired direc
tor of the National Hurricane Center and panel discussions focussing on
“Forecasting, Meteorology and Public Awareness,” “Hurricane Prepared
ness at the State Level” and “Hurricane Preparedness at the Local Level.’
Leaniing From History; Predictions for the Future
Jarrell’s lecture focused on the importance of gaug
ing friture hurricane situations by examining both re
cent experiences and past history.
“We do not prepare for the lessons of history but
for our memory and perception of history,” he said.
Jarrell emphasized that hurricanes come in “clus-
Iters” and that in order to understand storm patterns,
iple must examine how areas have been impacted
the last one hundred years, rather than trusting life-
le experiences with local weather.
He (tescribed the last few years as an “abnormal”
;riod in which El Nino and La Nina influenced
'eather As the weather enters a “normal” period,
farrell expects an increased level of storm activity.
vTiile Wilmington has served as an exception, the
Hurricane Floyd. | majority of the country has been left unscathed by
hurricanes. Jarrell believes this is dangerous because it has allowed people
to “put down their guard” about the potential of natural disasters.
“In that abnormal period we have allowed crazy things to happen to our
coastline, our building codes have relaxed the population has skyrocketed at
See HURRICANE, page 5