OUR PROPOSALS:
As already communicated in a post some time ago and in a previous article, this summer we worked on several proposals to improve the canteens, based on a questionnaire with more than 700 responses.
Prices: Decrease the cost of a full meal, especially for students with a DSU grant; Introduce if not present and sponsor discounted menus for popular products.
Space: Remedy overcrowding by adding seats and introducing working automatic checkouts to optimise queuing; Extend the opening hours of the premises, for an increasingly accessible university.
Food quality: Standardise and ensure a certain minimum amount of food on the plate; Increase the vegan and vegetarian choice; Ensure students with intolerances have food options adapted to their needs.
Sustainability: Improve communication on how to recycle various waste materials; Decrease consumption of disposable materials.
WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED:
Thanks to the availability of the University’s Housing and Dining service, we achieved:
Introduction and sponsorship of discounted menus.
Introduction of gluten free daily menu.
Increased vegan and vegetarian options on the daily menu.
Introduction of working cash machines (try them in the bar in building 2!).
70 additional seats and extension of the closing time until 8pm of the Bar Nave.
Obligation to have generous portions according to the “Reference Intake Levels of
Nutrients and energy for the Italian population’ in its most up-to-date version drawn up by the SINU (latest announcement).
WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE:
The question of prices remains open: even with the new canteen tender, which affects the Lecco and Bovisa Candiani premises, despite pressure from some representatives, in particular Svolta and Terna, it will not be possible to get a full meal at a lower price.
In fact, prices will be free market except for the following constraints:
1. First/second course with side dish/fruit for 5 euro.
2. Sandwich stuffed with seasonal fruit for 5 euro.
Although these restrictions are certainly a step towards our proposals, we believe that these prices are too high for a university canteen. We want an increasingly affordable Polimi, especially at a time when Milan is less and less so.
This is why our representative Sofia Sannino voted against the new canteen motion at the last board meeting in March. However, the majority of councillors voted in favour and the motion was approved in any case.
We will keep you updated on future developments in this matter.
