Campus Auxiliary Services prepared a menu of Kosher dishes that were served at each dining during Passover the day before it began on March 27 through the final day of Passover on April 4. The details of the menu were sent in an email from CAS to the campus community the afternoon of March 30.
The Jewish community and student representatives from Hillel at Geneseo requested that CAS send out an email to inform the community of the Passover menu available to students before Passover began.
Hillel president and history adolescent education major junior Lara Goodman expressed, on behalf of Hillel at Geneseo, that the menu was sent out after Passover began, describing their miscommunications with CAS as “frustrating.”
Jonna Anne, managing director of restaurants and cafes of CAS, said she realizes that the system does not function perfectly to serve the Geneseo Kosher community.
“What I’m asking for is communication,” Anne said. “Unfortunately, what I want isn’t always the same as what everyone else wants, so I’m really open to ideas.”
Besides the lack of communication that occurred between Hillel at Geneseo and CAS, Goodman also said she is generally disappointed in CAS in regard to the availability of matza at the dining halls during Passover and the lack of signage and education on how to eat matza with their dinners at the dining halls where the option is being served.
According to the email, all stations at Mary Jemison, Letchworth and Red Jacket dining halls began offering matzo to be ordered at the kiosks or registers beginning on March 27. Until April 4, each dining hall had matzo substitutes for normal offerings, like sandwiches and wraps, flatbread pizzas and breakfast platters.
An attachment of the email titled “Where can I eat during Passover” establishes a timeline for the Kosher options available at Nabali located at Food Studio North in Letchworth where students can regularly access Kosher offerings from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The specialized Passover menu begins on March 27, offering “cold cuts, matzos, cookies and chips” on March 27 and 28 and on April 2 and 3. For the days in between, Nabali had offerings of dishes like “Aloo Gobi, Matzo Brei, Falafel,” among other cultural dishes on March 29 through 31 and April 1 and 4, according to the email attachment.
The attached timeline of Kosher options distinguishes which offerings are vegetarian and vegan, concluding to make an additional reference to those Matzo substitutes that were available at each dining hall during hours of operation.
The email notes that although all the Passover offerings are Kosher, the only all Kosher kitchen on campus is Nabali at Food Studio North in Letchworth.
Goodman also expressed her dissatisfaction within the Geneseo community in the overall Kosher options provided by CAS, citing her belief that those who prepare the food do not have enough situational awareness of its preparation and dietary restrictions.
“In terms of Nabali itself ... it’s never really something we’re worrying about. But I’d say in terms of things being marked [Kosher, vegan, vegetarian] when then they’re actually not, that’s kind of where the problems will come,” Goodman said.
Goodman said that she and other members of Hillel at Geneseo often suspect human error when certain foods are marked as Kosher, vegan or vegetarian when they are prepared in non-Kosher or non-vegetarian kitchens. She alleges multiple instances where she has come across food that is labeled incorrectly. But Goodman said she recognizes the blame of these happenings do not fall on CAS alone.
“We’re at a public school, and I know only so much blame can be placed on CAS … the funding is simply not there,” she said.
Anne described how the new grab and go feature at Nabali has not been utilized much, and that she would like to hear from students if and how it can be improved.
“What I would love to know is what people are looking for, because we may not have the right options out there,” Anne said.
Despite the frustrations Goodman expressed on behalf of the Hillel community, she said she has hopes for the future.
“I have another meeting with [CAS] to go over all of this stuff … I think we’re working towards a better solution and I am hopeful that we can establish one,” Goodman said.
Anyone interested in providing suggestions to CAS in regard to their Kosher, vegan, vegetarian, or other dietary restricting options and labeling is encouraged to contact cas@geneseo.edu. Anyone with general questions, concerns or suggestions relating to CAS’s food and service offerings is encouraged to reach out as well.