After eating at the Freebirds on campus, the expectation of leaving satisfied amounted to disappointment. Students choosing this dining option are left scratching their heads, wondering why they had just paid full price for a subpar meal. While already juggling rising tuition costs and stagnant wages, students or any customers should not have to walk away from their meals with buyer’s remorse.
Chances are, if the Freebirds on campus has been mentioned, a negative connotation is followed by it — and for good reason. Tuition at public universities in Texas has increased by almost 16% in the last decade according to the Education Data Initiative. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor found that Texas’ minimum wage has remained the same at $7.25 since 2009. For many students, every dollar spent matters, so are they really getting their money’s worth?
In an informal survey, a few students compared their experience at the on-campus location with an off-campus Freebirds. The consensus? The off-campus locations served up better portions, seasoned foods and service. Why is the Freebirds most accessible to us on campus lackluster? One potential explanation for these occurrences is that businesses are willing to gamble that students are both too hungry and in too much of a rush in between classes to pay attention to this discrepancy in quality. Food is essential to everyone; proximity should not affect quality and leave people with a rip-off.
This goes beyond a simple matter of burritos and bowls; it is about the value. From housing to textbooks, students are already paying absurd amounts for their college expenses. Is it wrong to want the dining options to reflect in quality what students pay in expenses? It has already been made apparent by UTSA students that it is not worth stopping at Freebirds, especially when there are better options available nearby.
It is up to students to decide where they spend their hard-earned money. The Freebirds on campus may be more convenient, but they fall short of delivering a decent meal. With rising tuition and living costs, it is paramount to be aware of what one is supporting and choose to dine at better options. One thing is clear: Students deserve more than what Freebirds is offering.
College life is already expensive enough. It is time students start expecting more from the places they fund, especially when they are right on campus.
