When the UF administration signed a no-bid contract with Aramark last year, many students at UF were disconcerted with the lack of research into the options available for food services on campus.
After the Student Senate meeting last night, many again should be asking why more research wasn't done ahead of time before signing a contract with a company with a reputation like Aramark's.
A multi-party coalition of senators led by the Progress Party brought forward a resolution to encourage Aramark to sit down with Immokalee farm workers to discuss ways of alleviating the terrible conditions faced by workers there, including seven convicted cases of human slavery involving more than 1,000 workers. These cases detailed conditions including beatings, pistol whippings and executions of migrant workers.
I'm proud that a majority voted in favor of the resolution, including all the Progress Party senators and half of the Unite party. But I'm also discouraged that the resolution didn't pass, and some senators refused to speak up on behalf of those without voices who are subject to the most reprehensible conditions imaginable, and refused to represent this Student Body.
I hope moving forward that those senators who voted no will do their due diligence this year and not make the same mistake of ignoring the practices that Aramark turns a blind eye to.
I hope soon the Student Government will join the Student Body and demand that Aramark open a dialogue with the farm workers of Florida to end exploitation, slavery and horrendous working conditions.
