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Source: The Wesleyan Argus Date: September 12, 2003 Byline: Katey Rich In response to widespread complaints, a coalition of students, administrators and the Jewish Chaplain canceled plans Thursday to make Montague’s Deli a kosher deli. Instead, the current Kosher Kitchen will be revamped according to student wishes, and a food cart offering Middle Eastern food will be installed on the third floor of the Campus Center. Montague’s will remain unchanged. According to Eli Staub ’04, who was present at the meeting, the cart will offer more than the name implies. “When I hear the word ‘cart’ I think of the thing in the science center,” Staub said. “That’s not what it is at all. It’s going to be a pretty significant kitchen, [serving] falafel, schwarma, salads and that kind of thing.” The meeting, organized by Director of Auxiliary Campus Services Manny Cunard, brought together campus dining representatives, WSA president Sohana Punithakumar ’04, Jewish Chaplain David Leipziger and four students invited by the rabbi— Staub, Chloe Safier ’06, Selina Ellis ’04 and Todd Stock ’04. According to Leipziger, Cunard organized the meeting to address both administrative and student concerns about the future of kosher dining on campus. “Manny said ‘OK, we had a plan for kosher, but wait, now we have all these people saying they want the deli to remain the way it is,’” Leipziger said. “I think he said ‘Wait, we need to make changes.’ ” Opposition to the kosher deli grew as students were informed of the potential changes. A handwritten petition in the window of the deli symbolized the dissent. “I was really glad that someone was bringing attention to it,” said Eleanor Conger-Milnes ’06. “Almost every student in line when I was standing in it signed.” Though they had been working for changes in kosher dining, some students involved in the creation of the deli were also unhappy with the decision. “I actually totally agreed with [the protesting students],” Staub said. “I never really thought that the deli was a good option. [Montague’s] is really popular. I really wanted to find a way to make it more of a win-win situation.” The students at the meeting praised the efficiency of the decision-makers and the interest administrators showed in their requests. “It was really this incredible example of what can happen when students bring a commitment to something and administrators bring a commitment to something,” Staub said. “It was really beautiful.” Administrative representatives present at the meeting were not available for comment. Along with being kosher, the kosher kitchen and food cart will also follow halal, the dietary restrictions set out in the Koran. According to Leipziger, many American Muslims eat at kosher delis in order to eat halal. Though kosher and halal laws have some differences, they are often compatible. “For some American Muslims, kosher meat is suitable,” Leipziger said. Staub views the dining options as a chance to increase unity between the Jewish and Muslim communities. “This is clearly an incredibly important thing for us to be doing,” he said. “It’s a really amazing way to get communities that clearly in parts of the world are very deeply in tension to unite around something and it’s really about creating opportunities to facilitate real communication and real dialogues.” Plans for the new dining facilities are now in the early stages, but students involved expect them to move along quickly. “I hope this is going to come together really soon,” Safier said. “They seem to want to make this a priority.” Ellis will be the WSA representative on the project. “[I’ll be] working with Rabbi David and also working with [Director of Campus Dining] Tim Reiss and with Manny to make sure that the things we talked about at the meeting actually happen,” Ellis said. “Everything’s very tentative.” Though those involved are reluctant to give definite dates, mid-October is the goal for completion. Reaction to the change on all sides was generally positive, especially for those who had opposed the proposed change. “I’m really glad to hear that it’s not going to happen,” Conger-Milnes said. “It seems like a solution for everyone.” According to those involved in the meeting, the change was intended to do just that. “This is a real victory for everybody,” Leipziger said. “Everyone should really feel delighted.”
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