• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

After serving UCLA students for 10 years, Taco Bell is scheduled to close its doors today, but some students refuse to say goodbye to the popular campus eatery.

Third-year European studies and economics student and Daily Bruin local display sales manager Matt Jacobs is trying to reinstate Taco Bell with a petition, which he said about 1,000 people signed this week.

Jacobs said the decision by the Associated Students of UCLA to not renew Taco Bell’s contract when it expires Sunday does not represent student interest.

“The majority of UCLA students want Taco Bell to stay. It is such a consensus belief. ASUCLA is representing a small group of people,” he said.

ASUCLA’s board of directors voted to replace Taco Bell following repeated allegations of labor abuse within the company’s tomato suppliers at a special meeting on Oct. 22. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which represents the tomato pickers, had asked UCLA to end its contract with Taco Bell until labor conditions improved.

“Taco Bell could not prove that they were not engaging in unfair working practices,” said undergraduate representative Yousef Tajsar. “ASUCLA adheres very strongly to issues of social responsibility.”

Tajsar said he also considered students before voting to not renew Taco Bell’s contract, and said they still had cheap food options on campus.

Jacobs said the main issue is ASUCLA’s commitment to students.

“I’m not trying to morally equivocate what Taco Bell is doing, but ASUCLA has obligations to the students here, not to farm workers out of the state,” he said.

Other supporters of the petition include the Bruin Republicans, whose Vice Chairman Nicholas Louw said Taco Bell is being wrongly targeted.

“The motivations for kicking out Taco Bell are skewed. We should be targeting the tomato vendor company that underpays workers. Taco Bell doesn’t set wages,” he said.

While the petitioners said they realize Taco Bell will close today despite their efforts, they hope to spread awareness to students and make a difference in the long run.

“I think if enough exposure is given to this, it will force ASUCLA to re-evaluate their priorities and consider the reinstatement of Taco Bell,” Jacobs said. He believes this issue is a “microcosm of the bigger picture” – the student majority being underrepresented by the student association.

Louw said he hopes the petition will influence the ASUCLA board in the future, and said Bruin Republicans and Bruin Democrats will unite to support board candidates who allow eateries such as Taco Bell to stay on campus.

“We will capitalize on this mistake and get students to unite against non-mainstream special interests,” Louw said.

Taco Bell is currently one of the most popular campus eateries, and some students said they will miss its affordability and convenience.

“(Taco Bell) is the only fast food place we have that’s cheaper compared to the places at Ackerman,” said second-year biology student Golnaz Namdar.

The low price of items also enabled students to use meal coupons from the residential halls, which can be redeemed for $1.85 for one meal-plan swipe. But, some students also support the decision to replace Taco Bell.

“I don’t believe in (Taco Bell) staying open. Taco Bell had its chance to remedy the tomato pickers (issue),” said fourth-year history and art history student Jasmine Hernandez.

A sandwich restaurant will replace Taco Bell starting Monday. Also, a taco restaurant with similar prices to Taco Bell will open in the Cooperage.

“We are going to try to work very hard to provide food-source options for (the students),” Tajsar said.