Where did you eat your last meal? For many, the answer would be Lane. Frustration with the mundane and habitual nature of eating seems at times unavoidable in life, regardless of one's location; Gordon being no exception. In order to understand this issue more fully, The Vox went straight to the source: Jack Lawrence, the man behind your meal.
Lawrence has worked at Gordon since 1983. In the 25 years that Lawrence has worked here, a lot has changed in dining services. One of the major changes was the switch from being run by an outside contractor to being a self-operated program, a change which Lawrence oversaw himself. He states that the change made two things possible: better benefits for the hourly workers employed in dining services, and more flexibility to respond to ideas from the community. Ideas that may otherwise be vetoed in the process of corporate approval are the very things that Lawrence delights in giving an opportunity; he relishes the flexibility a self-operated program allows. One example of this is the GCSA extended and in-dorm breakfasts that take place on GCSA weekends.
During his conversation with The Vox, Lawrence continually returned to one thing: students. When asked what he enjoys about his job, one of the things he lists is the students, whom he says are "a cut above." He states simply that "the students are the most important people on campus," and goes on to say that they "deserve the best we can give them."
So what should you do next time you're frustrated by your Lane experience? Lawrence advises two courses of action: writing a comment card, and stopping by to chat with him. Lawrence, his Assistant Director, Steve Hager, and the chefs read the comment cards on a daily basis and can often order missing food items within a day. (Comment cards are located near the recycle bins in Easton Dining Hall). Additionally, Lawrence's office is located behind the mail room, next to auxiliary services, and he welcomes drop-in visitors. Oh, and one more thing: it is a myth that $80 is added onto the meal plan to compensate for theft.
