Wendy’s gets mixed reviews

Students have met the prospect of a Wendy’s restaurant in the Student Union with mixed feelings after learning that Carolina Dining Services is leaning toward the fast food franchise.

Administrators revealed a plan last week to expand on-campus dining options by opening a Wendy’s in the space occupied by the copy center in the Union.

While some students said they were excited by the proposal to add a 24-hour fast food dining option within three years, others voiced their concerns about the nutritional value of the food and additional student fees that might be incurred.

“I love Wendy’s,” said junior Bunmi Fashusi, who works in the copy center on the bottom floor of the Union. “It’s about time they brought fast food to campus.”

But other students said they objected to the student fee increases that would come with the new restaurant.

Junior Juan Tuset said he would not want to pay the fee because he is likely to graduate before the opening.

“It is a little upsetting that I know I’d never be able to take advantage of it,” Tuset said. “I wouldn’t want to pay for it.”

Director of Auxiliary Services Mike Freeman said an estimated student fee increase of $18.11 would be assessed in order to cover the construction debt.

Freeman said the Union Board of Directors will meet Oct. 19 to come to a consensus on the new restaurant.

Freeman said about $4 of the fee would be directed toward the construction of the Wendy’s. The other $14 would fund an expansion of the Top of Lenoir dining hall. The plan calls for about 200 more seats to the second floor of Lenoir Hall.

“There’s no way we can serve this campus in the coming years with the setup we have now,” Freeman said.

Preliminary documents regarding the changes and fee increases indicate that two other campus restaurants — the Beach Café and the Starbucks at Rams Head — were renovated without fee increases. Both projects exceeded their estimated budgets with a combined cost of nearly $5.5 million.

Money for these projects came from Carolina Dining Services’ existing budget.

Sophomore Allison Cummings said she would not be satisfied with a Wendy’s or any fast food franchise.

“In terms of UNC being a research university, in terms of health care, having another fast food restaurant is strange,” Cummings said.

She added that a healthier restaurant would be worth the price.

“I think the expense could be an investment in health, in values.”



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.