It's a typical school day and the Oasis is buzzing with hungry students.

Michael Kowalski, a second-year computer systems technology student, was one such hungry student. On Friday, September 10, he went into the Oasis for lunch “There was a sign saying, ‘No fries with all grill items,'” he remembered. He didn't think much of it, until he went to order his food, and learned that nothing he wanted came with a combo that included fries. He also noticed the prices of many menu items — including grilled cheese sandwiches — had gone up quite a bit. “I wasn't too happy, and I just didn't buy anything.”

After walking out of the Oasis, Kowalski took his anger out online, on the FSU's new social media site. In a forum post entitled, “Price Raises @ Oasis,” Kowalski vented to students about the removal of fries and salads from combos and the general price increases. “I believe it's fanshawe STUDENT union, shouldn't it be student needs that get priority over revenue?” he wrote.

“I thought if I go to the forums — because there are something like 2,000 users (on the Fanshawe site) now — hopefully somebody else can raise their voice and we can have more people wanting lower prices,” explained Kowalski. “It's the student union, so it should be about what the students really want.”

Just over 15 minutes later, he received a reply from the FSU president himself, Joe Scalia. Scalia wrote that prices for all food items from suppliers had increased, and that HST had had an effect on prices as well. “... Not everyone wants fries with their meal,” wrote Scalia. “The prices are cheaper without fries, that's not a tact from us to rip you off.”

According to Kowalski, that's just the kind of answer he was expecting. “I don't think he answered my question correctly,” he said. Kowalski remembered that last year, the Oasis had the option for students who didn't want fries to choose another option. “He (also) said, ‘The prices were lower if you don't have fries.' They're not really lower — they're an increase from last year, and you still don't get fries.”

Kowalski isn't the first student to complain about the increased food prices. Scalia said he has been dealing with angry students since the semester began. “Students aren't happy with it. They're assuming we're ripping them off, and I can understand why.”

Scalia said the decision to remove fries from combos was based on students' opinions. “We do a residence survey every year. There are 1,200 (students) that live in residence, and it's mandatory that they have ... a meal plan,” he said. “One of their biggest complaints is that they're paying for the burger and fries and only eating the burger. So they were asking if we could just sell the burgers, and if you want fries, you pay a little extra.”

“Now that, with the costs of food going up, and gas, and other things throughout the year — it's perceived that we are just cutting out the fries but charging the same price, which isn't the case.”

Brian Harness, Fanshawe Student Union's food service director, explained further. “The only thing that counts for price increases is increases in food costs and labour ... Everybody's happy when minimum wage goes up, but, as an institution, we have to reflect that change somewhere. We don't absorb it all in food costing, but we do absorb some of it.”

Harness explained the Oasis will never sacrifice quality for price. “I can always reduce the price by taking some (expensive food items, such as) cheese out. I don't want to do that. I don't want to take away the quality to make a price that's easier for kids to accept.”

The Oasis looks at new suppliers for every year to reduce food costs and, therefore, the price. Switching to a supplier that carries local produce has been very helpful in reducing food prices, Harness said.

Harness stressed the increases are “absolutely not (about profit). We would never do that. I would always look for a way to decrease prices.” Students may be surprised to learn where the money from the Oasis and Out Back Shack actually goes. According to Harness, any profit made by the restaurant goes directly into the student union's bank account to pay for things like bus passes, free concerts, bursaries and the student calendars.

Scalia encouraged students to ask questions before making assumptions. “There's a student council in place for a reason — we're representing them to make sure that things like that don't happen.”

“If students want to see a change or try to make a change, SAC (nominations) are open now. I would recommend getting on student council and voicing your concerns that way,” said Scalia. “Make a change by getting involved.”