Petrina Francis, Education Reporter
SOME LECTURERS and students at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona are chiding the institution for establishing a Juici Patties fast food restaurant at the main entrance of the institution.
The restaurant, which is to begin operation by January, is being set up adjacent to the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, where the Kiosk was located.
Richard Toomer, president of the guild of students at the UWI told The Gleaner yesterday that the location of the restaurant would affect the natural beauty of the university, noting that it would be the first thing that people see when they enter the campus.
He noted that the Queens Way which is the main entrance leading to the campus is renowned for its natural beauty and has won awards for its exquisiteness.
SECURITY CONCERNS
Mr. Toomer also related that the restaurant would pose security concerns for students, as it would not only serve the campus community but also members of the public who would be able to enter and exit the campus freely.
"I am opposed to any notion of commercial advertisement on campus in a permanent way," said Dr. Orville Taylor, senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the UWI.
Dr. Taylor said that while he is not opposed to having the service on the campus, the advertisement of the restaurant should not be placed on the outside of the building.
The senior lecturer said the university has spent a lot of money trying to maintain the beauty of the campus and a "fast food place, however indigenous, cannot enhance the beauty of the institution,"
Other fast food restaurants that are located on the campus include Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pages Café, and Submerge.
But Joe Pereira, deputy principal of the UWI told The Gleaner that the restaurant would not affect the aesthetics of the university because the sign would be facing the west of the campus, and people would not be able to see it from the ring road or when they enter the main entrance.
He also pointed out that a restaurant was at the same location before and did not affect the beauty of the campus in any way.
The deputy principal said that while the university was aware of the implications of setting up the restaurant at that location, it is enhancing the ability of students to access another food outlet on the campus.
Responding to security concerns from the guild president, Mr. Pereira noted that people have been using the campus for other commercial activities and the new restaurant should not present any security concern because it is no different from the other entities on the campus.
