Evergreen’s ongoing business association with the food vendor Aramark is in direct contradiction to the values that this institution claims to have. Evergreen’s mission statement proclaims its support to local and global commitment to social justice, diversity, environmental stewardship and service in the public interest. Aramark contributes to the ongoing privatization of the prison system and immigrant detention centers in the United States.

It is our responsibility to dissect the epistemic infrastructures that fundamentally transform what this institution truly stands for. Additionally, student accessibility to food on campus is constrained by the presence of Aramark because of meal plan requirements and the lack of affordable alternatives. Evergreen cannot purport to be an academic community if students are unable to feed themselves properly. It is in this interest that we aim to explore ethically and fiscally feasible options for Evergreen’s food system.