The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 8, 2017 Page: 3 of 16
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MARCH 8, 2017 | STMURATTLERNEWS .COM
NEWS I 3
Green boxes’ cleanliness put into question
POLICE BLOTTER
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017
FEB. 20
Burglary of vehicle reported in Lot R.
Case is closed.
FEB. 21
Criminal mischief reported at 2507 NW
36th St.
Case is closed.
FEB. 21
Public intoxication reported at Woodlawn
and 36th Street.
Case is closed.
FEB. 22
Theft reported at the AA&CC.
Case is active.
FEB. 22
Reckless damage or destruction reported
in Lot D.
Case is closed.
FEB. 22
Dating violence reported in Marian Hall.
Case is closed.
FEB. 22
Disorderly conduct reported in the
University Center.
Case is closed.
FEB. 24
Dating violence reported off-campus.
Case is closed.
FEB. 25
Possession of alcohol by a minor
reported in Dougherty Hall.
Case is closed.
MARCH 2
Homicide — natural causes reported at
Marianist Residence.
Case is closed.
SAMANTHA SALAZAR
NEWS EDITOR
The green boxes are infamous around
the St. Marys campus. Since on campus
food options are limited, taking food from
the cafe to go in these boxes is a popular
option for busy students, faculty and staff.
While the containers’ being reusable makes
them eco-friendly, it also raises concerns
regarding the cleaning process of something
that potentially could have food sitting
in it for prolonged periods of time before
being cleaned.
To enroll in this popular program,
students purchase a to-go card for a one-
time fee of $7. While it still counts as a
“swipe,” the student can opt at anytime to
get a reusable green box to take food with
him or her, then bring back the dirty box
for a new one or get a to-go card for the
next time they wish to take food with them.
This process is completed on a daily basis in
which a green box can go through possibly
hundreds of different students a year.
So how are these widely used containers
sanitized and cleaned after being used
and before being checked out to another
student? John Finerghty, food director of
Aramark dining services, assures that the
cleaning process is the same for dine-in and
to-go customers.
“[The boxes go through] the same
cleaning process as the dinnerware used in
the campus dining service,” Finerghty said.
After being turned in, the containers
are sent to the dish room where they are
inspected, scraped and sprayed out. Next
they are sent through the dish machine
and put through a three-step process: wash,
rinse and sanitize. The green boxes are put
through this process twice.
As far as boxes that are beyond washable,
they are thrown away as soon as they are no
longer safe to reuse.
“ [The boxes are thrown out] if they are
broken, worn down, stained, or if someone
left food in them too long or worse we found
mold in them,” Finerghty said.
The green to-go boxes are supposed to be
extensively cleaned, going through multiple
cleaning processes, but some students don’t
find the cleanliness so apparent. Valerie
Villalba, freshman forensic science major,
has not had the best experience with the
green boxes.
“There was a time when I got a box and
there was remnants of food. I asked for a
Aramark employee, Shelby Sanchez, wipes off
a to-go container. I Photo by Natalia Zuniga
new one and that one was worse,” she said.
Since receiving an unclean box, Villalba
has tried to avoid using them. When she
does, she takes special precautions by
washing hers out before returning them so
the next user won’t have a similar experience
to hers.
“I hate to have found food in mine and
so I hope that when I wash it and return [it]
again, hopefully another student doesn’t find
food in the boxes like I did,” Villalba said.
Carina Umanzor, freshman exercise
and sport science major, had the same
experience when she was given a new box
with dried food still inside. Megan Tinajero,
sophomore psychology major, received a
box with a broken latch.
However, Alyssa Valdez, criminology
major, a frequent user of the green
boxes has had a flawless experience
regarding cleanliness.
“I’ve never had a problem about them
being dirty, they clean them really well and
then the ladies in front wipe them down and
give them to you,” Valdez said.
Yet for many students it’s the same story,
remnants of food and other substances still
left inside the green boxes even after being
washed or receiving broken boxes. Some
have even avoided using them because of
the possibility of uncleanliness.
Aramark purchases new green boxes
twice a semester, four times a year, each order
totaling 400 to 500, which means St. Mary’s
receives 2,000 new green boxes per year.
Their extensive cleaning process, though
sometimes not meeting the expectations
of the students, help ensure the sanitation
of all dining equipment.
FROM "COVER"
offended by me trying to fill them in on an
organization that is very important to me,”
Calvillo said.
Hill expresses frustration over the
responses sent by the students in the
email thread.
“I was very frustrated. I couldn’t
believe that students felt so strongly and
negatively about receiving emails about
an organization.”
One concern that was brought up in
the responses was “where the money goes.”
Golden Key asks for a one-time fee of $99
that carries the benefits for a lifetime.
According to Hill, with every person that
Golden Key recruits, they receive $10.
The majority of the money goes to the
international organization and some to the
chapter organization to help put on events
and marketing offers. St. Mary’s also receives
a portion of the money, $500, to award
students in scholarships.
Golden Key is similar to other honor
societies in that it provides benefits to
members such as scholarship opportunities,
study abroad opportunities, internships
and service projects, according to Christina
Carrion, senior exercise and sport science
major. Carrion is currently an active member
in both the Golden Key Honor Society
and the National Society of Leadership
and Success.
“In my opinion, it [Golden Key] is not
a scam,” Carrion said. “It is the largest
collegiate honor society. I just think it is
so new to our campus that members are
trying to understand what the organization
can offer.”
The other major concern brought up
Besides emails, Golden Key HonorSociety sends
out printed invites. I Photo by Natalia Zuniga
in the email thread was how Golden Key
attained all 300+ email addresses. For some
students it was concerning that they had
access to their personal contact information.
Email addresses, similar to how other
organizations on campus solicit emails, are
received through the Registrar’s Office. A
request for an email list can be made and
either approved or disapproved. Students
may unsubscribe from emails from the
national Golden Key organization, but if it is
St. Mary’s specific, they will have to send an
email to the officers of the chapter every year
to be taken out of the mailing list.
“We have tried to prepare students that
they would be receiving these emails ...
Students will have to unsubscribe each year
so long as they remain in the top 15 percent
[because the emails are automatically
generated each year],” Hill said.
According to Frank Niewierski, director
of system support services, email addresses
are not given to outside organizations
unless they partner with St. Mary’s. Since
Golden Key has a local chapter, they are not
considered a third party.
“St. Mary’s University does not provide
email addresses of the students to third
parties, with the exception of vendors that
are partnered with the university such
as Barnes & Noble and Slate [Admission
Processing] ” Niewierski said.
The reason why students were unable to
unsubscribe from the local chapter’s email
thread was because it was created by a
student as a general email instead of through
the Office 365 Group tool that is offered by
the university’s email provider. If the group
had been created with this feature, there is
an unsubscribe option.
“Unfortunately, since these messages are
not being sent by a subscription service,
unsubscribing is not an option,” Niewierski
said. “Now that this has been brought to
our attention, we will be reaching out to
the student to discuss the use of Office
365 Groups.”
Hill admitted that last year Golden Key
did not have a solid plan for recruiting.
This year they had a better idea, but with
the recent emails, they now have a better
idea for next year’s recruiting. Both Hill
and Carvillo are open to both positive and
negative feedback as they plan to grow as an
active organization on campus.
“Our goal is to be at a solid state [with
Golden Key] and to not require a lot of effort
on our part because the students work hard
and are academically orientated,” Hill said.
“We want the students to be successful and
have access to [more resources].”
EMAIL THREAD FEED
"Can we unsubscribe? Some
of us have been getting
emails from Golden Key for
a while now, despite the
fact we never indicated any
interest in it."
- Ashley Thomas
"I as well would like to
'unsubscribe' from your
mailing list. I mean no
offense, but I am not
interested in the
Golden Key."
- Christopher Repka
"Your names are generated
each year as long as you
remain in the top 15% at
StMU. You will likely have to
make sure you opt out each
year. Welcome to the world
of being successful"
- Dr. Heather Hill
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St. Mary's University (San Antonio, Tex.). The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 8, 2017, newspaper, March 8, 2017; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1048411/m1/3/?q=music: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting St. Mary's University Louis J. Blume Library.