Student leaders at Penn Student Agencies are worried that Aramark -- the company which runs Penn Dining and a sizable corporation -- is encroaching on the student-run agency.
PSA Video Vault and Drexel senior Tristan English are concerned with the presence of new programs implemented by Aramark because the competition could possibly affect PSA business.
"Penn Dining has been creating many new stores and implementing new ideas in the past two years, some of which have been infringing on student ideas and businesses," English said in an e-mail interview.
English noted the presence of the new Aramark-run DVD rental store in 1920 Commons, which entices students with the prospect of renting movies with Dining Dollars. He believes that this will draw customers from the PSA-run Video Vault, located in Houston Hall, citing Aramark's superior marketing ability due to the corporate status of the Penn Dining Services, regardless of higher prices.
English also argued that the new care packages offered by Penn Dining could hurt business for PSA, which has been offering care packages for students for several years now. Finally, PSA officers are concerned that the presence of "Real Food @ Penn" -- a dining option for students that allows them to eat at places like Subway and Chick-fil-A while paying for their meals with Dining Dollars -- has decreased demand for student-run commissaries in the high rise buildings.
English said he worries that if Penn Dining takes over too much business from the Penn Student Agencies, it could hurt the organization.
"PSA has always been the big supplier of work-study jobs on campus, and is [almost] completely run by students," English wrote.
However, Rhea Lewis, director of communications and special projects for Penn Business Services, said that Penn Dining tries to work with the desires of students, rather than trying to borrow marketing ideas or take business away from PSA.
"We do not wish to overshadow or compete with the Penn Student Agencies," Lewis said. "Penn Dining works from the needs and requests of students, and most of our ideas come directly from student suggestions and requests."
Lewis also added that when Penn Dining Services found out that PSA offered care packages for students, they decided to team up. PSA would handle most of the marketing and Dining Services would provide the supplies for the packages.
Some of English's colleagues, however, were not as worried.
"In terms of their Dining Dollars for movies, you can still use your bursar or PennCash for movies" at Video Vault, Engineering senior Ana Crespo said.
"We've got a much better selection, and we know what people want," Engineering sophomore Patrick Crutchley said. "If someone suggests a movie, nine times out of 10 we get it. Plus, this is student-run. That makes all the difference."
