It's one of those things that Ohio University business majors probably learn in their first quarter: Losing a million dollars in the first year of any business is a very bad thing. But OU's Dining Services either didn't learn this lesson or perhaps thinks the principle doesn't apply to it.
In Baker University Center, Dining Services recorded a net loss of more than $1 million in its first two quarters in business. Perhaps even worse, no one at the university seems terribly upset about this, despite the fact that OU is facing tough fiscal times and the Dining Dollars program ' which accounted for 60 percent of the $1.5 million gross sales ' was a colossal failure.
It's comforting to know that the university is careful when it spends our money.
Instead, the university seems happy the loss was only about $1 million, rather than the $1.3 million projected in a March 2 Dining Services memo. And university representatives cite how good it is that the start-up cost for West 82 was merely $341,470, or $48,780 for each restaurant.
Dining Dollars is going to be phased out, but no one is standing up and admitting that it was a mistake to give away so much money in the first place. No one seems to be concerned about how few people seem to be frequenting West 82's less than impressive fare. No one points out that Dining Services didn't even have to factor in buying a building into its start-up costs. And no one seems to be considering perhaps the best way to generate interest and make some money off a potentially failed restaurant: allowing students with super meal plans to spend their meals in West 82.
No, it's just business as usual at OU, where admitting mistakes is taboo and listening to students' gripes ' such as the quality and cost of food ' is unnecessary.
OU students should celebrate by spending their hard-earned cash at Uptown restaurants.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of the executive editors.
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West 82 means $1 million down the drain
