College students have never been known for their wise food choices, and these days are no exception. With restaurant chains finding goldmines in the ready customer base of the college campus, more students are eating fast food regularly.
According to a Student Monitor marketing survey, 83 percent of college students visit at least one fast food restaurant every week, with McDonald’s, Subway and Wendy’s being the favorites.
On the ETSU campus, however, Chick-fil-A is king of the food court.
“Chick-fil-A is the most popular, accounting for about 40 percent of our retail sales,” said Penny McClintic, assistant director of ARAMARK, the food services company ETSU contracts for campus dining.
“The second most popular is Quizno’s, accounting for 28 percent of retail sales,” McClintic said.
With a quick glance around the Culp Center’s food court, the Atrium, it doesn’t take a spreadsheet to see that most students choose the convenience of Chick-fil-A.
ETSU student Hunter Bradford, for instance, talked about her choice over a chicken sandwich and waffle fries.
“Taco Bell’s my favorite,” she said. “I don’t usually eat Chick-fil-A, I swear. It was just easy.”
Bradford also said that fast food is a way of life with a busy college student’s schedule.
“I’ve eaten more fast food since I came to ETSU because that’s all that’s offered,” said the junior in philosophy.
When asked if she’s gained weight because of this, Bradford shrugs and smiles. “Yes, among other things.”
But Bradford doesn’t blame ARAMARK for her weight gain.
“I think they’re probably putting out what sells,” she said. “If people are buying their food and they don’t complain about it, then obviously [ARAMARK] doesn’t care.”
It’s an opinion echoed all over the Atrium by students: We want our fast food.
Music education major Anthony Parnther was blunt when asked if given more healthful options, he would make wiser food choices.
“Probably not,” he said, admitting to a double-digit weight gain since coming to ETSU several years ago.
For Nicholas Jackson, the alternatives would simply need to be tastier. “I would probably eat better if they offered really good salads,” he said.
Business major Danny Cede_o said he has also gained five pounds or so since he started ETSU in August.
“Sometimes I get salads [at the Marketplace],” Cede_o said over his chicken sandwich. But he was uncertain about other healthy choices on campus.
“I think Quizno’s might have some healthy food,” he said.
For ETSU, the fast food revolution began in 1992, when ARAMARK opened Chick-fil-A. The company then added Burger King, Quizno’s, Java City, Freshens, AFC Sushi and the ARAMARK concept restaurants, Grille and Izzi’s Southwest.
The company also runs the Marketplace, a cafeteria on the top floor of the Culp Center.
McClintic said the company has seen a drastic reduction in complaints since JoAnn Scott, production manager, implemented the Real Food on Campus program.
“JoAnn and her staff prepare almost 75 percent of the food served in the Marketplace in front of the customer,” said McClintic.
“This has taken care of the issue of freshness.”
Additionally, ARAMARK surveys students each semester to find out what they want – be it good, bad or unhealthy.
“When we conduct our surveys, we review them and develop a game plan for the upcoming semester,” McClintic said.

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