I don't know what I'd do without my weekly dose of La'Marcus
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Pat Briggs
12 years ago
I will literally cry myself to sleep every night if Ike's leaves.
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Anonymous
12 years ago
Ik's is the only sandwich place on campus that has several options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free!
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Natalie Stottler
12 years ago
Ike's is the best!! Sometimes I only go to campus events for the free Ike's.
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Priscilla Acuna Mena
12 years ago
There is something wrong about RD&E making these kinds of decisions without consulting the student body.
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Andrew Aude
12 years ago
Dear Shirley Everett and Michael Gratz,
We are disappointed that R&DE sought to compete for Huang Engineering Center. By and large, Stanford students prefer Ike's to R&DE’s restaurants. I can’t even compare Ike’s to your replacement offering, because you haven’t even declared what kinds of food it will serve. Although some students griped about Ike’s price increase, more students gripe that R&DE’s prices are even higher. Do you really think students want more restaurants that are only open from 11AM-2PM, five days per week? R&DE’s high prices, skimpy product offerings, and minimal operating hours are why R&DE should not be opening any more restaurants on campus.
Furthermore, it is appalling that you are able to operate your restaurants tax-free under Stanford's 501(c)(3). As you know, R&DE restaurants technically fail the IRS’s three-part test for Unrelated Business Income. R&DE restaurants are 1) “A trade or business,” 2) “Regularly carried on,” and 3) “Not substantially related to furthering the exempt purpose of the organization.” (That organization is Stanford University.)
Despite good intentions, R&DE Hospitalities & Auxiliaries doesn’t seem to be acting "in support of Stanford’s academic mission." Remember, R&DE’s existing restaurants would be paying a 20-30% Unrelated Business Income Tax if it weren't for the IRS’s broadly defined "Convenience of Members" exemption. (However, I would argue that R&DE’s restaurants are not convenient for students, faculty, or visitors.) R&DE restaurants unfairly outcompete private vendors that actually have to pay business taxes. Looking at your vast $180M annual budget, it will only grow now that you have eliminated one of your largest competitors.
Enough is enough. Stop expanding your restaurant business. "Fundraising" via food sales is not appropriate, and we deserve better.
Students want high-quality independent vendors, like Ike’s, on Stanford’s campus.
We ask that you forfeit your newly awarded lease in
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Garrett Walker
12 years ago
I will abstain from eating at any place that is not Ike's but takes the place of Ike's.
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Anonymous
12 years ago
I love making it extra dirty! :(
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Anonymous
12 years ago
Dear Andrew, As the Executive Director of Stanford Hospitality & Auxiliaries (SHA), I want to take the opportunity to follow up on your email and clarify some of your concerns. I am also hopeful that we can set up a direct meeting with you this week. My team and I are excited about this new opportunity to provide students, faculty and staff with a new menu concept and an additional place to use their cardinal dollars. While we responded to the RFP, Stanford Hospitality and Auxiliaries was not involved in any decision related to Ike’s contract. We were invited to respond to an RFP alongside approximately 12 other vendors. Lindsey Akin, the Committee Chair, made the following announcement to the community message board on Friday afternoon: “I am excited to announce that we have selected a new café partner for the Forbes Family Café space in the Huang Engineering Center. The awarded vendor, Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE), will begin operations on September 2, 2014 (the day after the Labor Day holiday). R&DE will offer a variety of menu options inspired by fresh and locally grown products. An added benefit of this new café partner is that you’ll be able to use Cardinal Dollars, which allow you to pre-load your Stanford ID and turn it into a fast payment method.The selection is the result of an RFP which was conducted by Stanford’s Procurement Department to select a café partner after Ike’s contract ended. Selection was based on several criteria, including the ability to meet the needs of Science and Engineering Quad (SEQ) users. Other deciding factors included sustainability and commitment to green practices, as well as reputation and staff pay, benefits and turnover.” SHA operates multiple retail concepts across campus and haveforged numerous partnerships based on feedback from students, faculty and staff with a diverse portfolio of outside vendors from Ray Klein’s Pub at GCC, Starbucks, Panda Express, CaliforniaPizza Kitchen, Fraiche, Subway, Russo
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Robert Chun
12 years ago
Not sure how RD&E can claim this is better for the student body with a straight face.
IKE's 4EVER.
I don't know what I'd do without my weekly dose of La'Marcus
I will literally cry myself to sleep every night if Ike's leaves.
Ik's is the only sandwich place on campus that has several options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free!
Ike's is the best!! Sometimes I only go to campus events for the free Ike's.
There is something wrong about RD&E making these kinds of decisions without consulting the student body.
Dear Shirley Everett and Michael Gratz, We are disappointed that R&DE sought to compete for Huang Engineering Center. By and large, Stanford students prefer Ike's to R&DE’s restaurants. I can’t even compare Ike’s to your replacement offering, because you haven’t even declared what kinds of food it will serve. Although some students griped about Ike’s price increase, more students gripe that R&DE’s prices are even higher. Do you really think students want more restaurants that are only open from 11AM-2PM, five days per week? R&DE’s high prices, skimpy product offerings, and minimal operating hours are why R&DE should not be opening any more restaurants on campus. Furthermore, it is appalling that you are able to operate your restaurants tax-free under Stanford's 501(c)(3). As you know, R&DE restaurants technically fail the IRS’s three-part test for Unrelated Business Income. R&DE restaurants are 1) “A trade or business,” 2) “Regularly carried on,” and 3) “Not substantially related to furthering the exempt purpose of the organization.” (That organization is Stanford University.) Despite good intentions, R&DE Hospitalities & Auxiliaries doesn’t seem to be acting "in support of Stanford’s academic mission." Remember, R&DE’s existing restaurants would be paying a 20-30% Unrelated Business Income Tax if it weren't for the IRS’s broadly defined "Convenience of Members" exemption. (However, I would argue that R&DE’s restaurants are not convenient for students, faculty, or visitors.) R&DE restaurants unfairly outcompete private vendors that actually have to pay business taxes. Looking at your vast $180M annual budget, it will only grow now that you have eliminated one of your largest competitors. Enough is enough. Stop expanding your restaurant business. "Fundraising" via food sales is not appropriate, and we deserve better. Students want high-quality independent vendors, like Ike’s, on Stanford’s campus. We ask that you forfeit your newly awarded lease in
I will abstain from eating at any place that is not Ike's but takes the place of Ike's.
I love making it extra dirty! :(
Dear Andrew, As the Executive Director of Stanford Hospitality & Auxiliaries (SHA), I want to take the opportunity to follow up on your email and clarify some of your concerns. I am also hopeful that we can set up a direct meeting with you this week. My team and I are excited about this new opportunity to provide students, faculty and staff with a new menu concept and an additional place to use their cardinal dollars. While we responded to the RFP, Stanford Hospitality and Auxiliaries was not involved in any decision related to Ike’s contract. We were invited to respond to an RFP alongside approximately 12 other vendors. Lindsey Akin, the Committee Chair, made the following announcement to the community message board on Friday afternoon: “I am excited to announce that we have selected a new café partner for the Forbes Family Café space in the Huang Engineering Center. The awarded vendor, Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE), will begin operations on September 2, 2014 (the day after the Labor Day holiday). R&DE will offer a variety of menu options inspired by fresh and locally grown products. An added benefit of this new café partner is that you’ll be able to use Cardinal Dollars, which allow you to pre-load your Stanford ID and turn it into a fast payment method.The selection is the result of an RFP which was conducted by Stanford’s Procurement Department to select a café partner after Ike’s contract ended. Selection was based on several criteria, including the ability to meet the needs of Science and Engineering Quad (SEQ) users. Other deciding factors included sustainability and commitment to green practices, as well as reputation and staff pay, benefits and turnover.” SHA operates multiple retail concepts across campus and haveforged numerous partnerships based on feedback from students, faculty and staff with a diverse portfolio of outside vendors from Ray Klein’s Pub at GCC, Starbucks, Panda Express, CaliforniaPizza Kitchen, Fraiche, Subway, Russo
Not sure how RD&E can claim this is better for the student body with a straight face.