Students' time to show support

   From noting the personal vibes of each vendor representative to "relentlessly" tasting extravagant food samples, committee members interviewing the four finalists for cafeteria services evaluated each applicant closely.
   But behind closed doors, the main focus remained: can our future vendor bring the TCC community back?
   Educational Catering, Inc. stands out under the positive aura of its representative, Kathy Woodruff.
   Woodruff was everything but a traditional cafeteria vendor. She was attentive, innovative and full of life. She did not start off by asking how much money her company can make; instead, she told the committee what she wanted to do to earn the trust of the TCC community.
   She did not hesitate to show her ambition, nor did she hide behind elaborate corporate resumes printed on paper meant to impress TCC and every other future client.
   Instead, she spoke of a vision most of us have daydreamed about while waiting in those long lines for some food that looked as old as the steam tables under them.
   "The steam tables are the things of the past," Woodruff said repeatedly throughout her presentation.
   And let's face it. We are more than willing to believe it and join her in the dance of revolutionizing the cafeteria services. The time is long overdue.
   But how successful she will be at materializing that vision still awaits the test of time. Can she find campus and regional managers who are as passionate and resolved as she? Will a small company like hers be able to sustain adequate operations even if revenue remains low?
   Can she turn our cafeteria's heinous reputation around, or will she be discouraged by initial defeats and retreat to the traditional "no, can't do" attitude?
   She may have a better chance if we recognize that this is not just her battle, but the battle of the entire TCC community. Instead of critiquing her performance as customers, we need to get actively involved.
   Students, faculty and staff members, as well as administration officials hold the keys to Woodruff's success. There should be an open dialogue between the company and our community; community members should actively submit their input and suggestions, and officials should be proactive at reassessing the company's performance.
   Rudy Gonzales, TCC vice chancellor for financial services, wants a committee on each campus to evaluate the company's performance every month. The TCC community should seize the opportunity and offer constructive ideas to improve our cafeterias.
   Most importantly, we must understand that revolutions do not take place overnight. Despite our expectations, we need to be patient and tolerant in the transition process.
  The administration is wise to utilize the entrepreneurial spirit of Educational Catering, Inc. to solve our old problems in the cafeteria. But it is the responsibility of the entire community to make sure that this time around the steam table culture that had plagued our campus food service will not be an option.
   As Woodruff said, "The steam tables are the things of the past."