Summer students need more accommodating transportation options
chronicle THE COLUMBIA
The Official News Source of Columbia College Chicago
May 3, 2010
Volume 45 Number 29
xx PAGE 28
Youth Programs Aim to Combat Chicago Violence
WEB-EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
WEB
ON THE
ColumbiaChronicle.com
Hold the Salt Call to federally regulate sodium added to processed foods by Ivana Susic Assistant Health & Fitness Editor ACCORDING TO the American Heart
Brent Lewis THE CHRONICLE
Philip Tadros, a former Columbia student, is the founder and CEO of Philcoextra, a consulting company that won a vote following a proposal to replace Plum Cafe, the college’s food provider and catering company. Tadros created University Cafe, which will be Columbia’s new food provider beginning June 1 and will include renovations of the current cafes.
Cafe changes are brewing Five-year contract ends, new company plans renovations within campus cafes
by Laura Nalin Assistant Campus Editor AFTER DECIDING not to renew its five
year contract with Plum Cafe, the college’s leading vendor and event caterer, Columbia recently formed a new partnership with Cafe University, owned by Philcoextra. Currently, Plum Cafe is responsible for catering school and departmental events, and was the only permitted provider of catering services to the college. However, with the implementation of the new contract with Philcoextra’s Cafe University, the incoming company will not provide any catering services. Campus events will now have to find catering outside of Columbia. The new contract was the result of numerous proposals from more than 20 potential food service vendors throughout Chicagoland presented in September 2009. Potential candidates outlined possible menus, prices and business alterations they’d make during a Senate assembly presentation.The new contract will go
into effect as of June 1. According to Tom Russel, director of administrative service and purchasing at Columbia, a survey was given to students, faculty, staff and administrators in an effort to determine what type of food service would satisfy the needs of the Columbia community.
The four biggest things we were considering were the price of food, which was a huge factor, the ability to hire student workers, student affordablility and the ability to use debit and credit cards.” - Jessica Valerio
Jessica Valerio, president of the Student Government Association, said although the SGA didn’t take a formal vote following the proposals, they voted in an
anonymous evaluation of the presentations. Following the votes, the agreement of all constituent groups favored Cafe University. Shortly after the vote, the college finalized a five-year contract with Philcoextra. Philip Tadros, founder and chiefexecutive officer of Philcoextra, is a Columbia graduate. Tadros said he is looking forward to working with the college to ensure the cafes are places for students to relax and network with one another. He developed Cafe University after being selected by the college. Tadros is the owner of numerous cafes throughout Chicagoland including Noble Tree Cafe, 2444 N. Clark St., Dollop Cafe, 4181 N. Clarendon Ave., and Chase Cafe, 7301 N. Sheridan Ave. He also owns Doejo, a 30-person Web consulting agency which specializes in design, development and marketing business. Valerio said although the prices and definite business plans have not been fully decided, Tadros proposed to lower the prices, ensuring student affordability, which played a major role in the decision making process. She added they decided to choose Cafe University mainly because
Association, the recommended daily sodium intake is less than 2,400 mg. On average, Americans consume 4,000 mg of sodium daily, with 75 percent of that intake coming from the processed foods consumed on a regular basis. In an effort to lower sodium intake, the American Heart Association is collaborating with New York City to create a nationwide campaign, the National Salt Reduction Initiative. The goal is part of a plan that aims to improve cardiovascular health and help people reduce the sodium they eat to fewer than 1,500 mg per day by the year 2020. This amount is currently how much is recommended as the daily intake for people sensitive to sodium.There is also a call for the Food and Drug Administration to federally mandate food companies set a limit for salt added to processed foods. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said more than 100,000 deaths each year can be attributed to health problems that arise from high salt consumption. He called it “vitally important” for the FDA to regulate the addition of salt in processed foods, citing the Institute of Medicine calling the voluntary approach for companies reducing sodium as an “abysmal failure.” According to Jacobson, the sodium in processed foods could be reduced by 25 percent before consumers would begin to notice a difference in taste. “The FDA needs to set limits,” Jacobson said.“It’s not the consumer using xx SEE SALT, PG. 13
STOCK PHOTO
xx SEE CAFE, PG. 7
INDEX
Printmaking on tour xx SEE PG. 18
METRO
xx SEE PG. 8
CAMPUS
A&C
CAMPUS
Columbia gets unplugged
Roosevelt to soar H&F over South Loop
xx SEE PG.31
2 11
A&C
17
COMMENTARY
28
METRO
31