Nassau Community College getting food trucks, but union officials still unhappy
Nassau Community College students and faculty members gathered last week to call for the restoration of food service on campus. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa Loarca
Nassau Community College is getting more food options after the closing of on-campus food and dining services sparked a protest.
The No Good Burger food truck started operating Wednesday and will continue three days a week through May 22, college officials said. The Big Cheese, a halal food truck, is expected to be on campus on Monday.
“We thank you for your patience as the college continues to explore new food options for the campus community,” a notice on the college’s webpage said.
The emergence of more food options comes after NCC’s food service provider swiftly pulled out of its current contract, leading to the closure of food and dining services on the campus as well as a Starbucks. At a recent on-campus rally, students and faculty said the lack of food on campus was a hindrance to learning and part of broader issues with the school’s administration.
The NCC has highlighted food options on campus that also include vending machines, a food pantry and microwave ovens.
Still, some said there needs to be a more permanent response to the food needs of students and faculty who sometimes have a long distance to commute to campus.
Union officials say that using microwave ovens to serve thousands of students is not practical and that the food truck can have long lines, potentially making it more difficult to get to class on time. Vending machines, they say, are often not in stock and are expensive.
“Two food trucks for 11,000 students … is ridiculous,” said Faren Siminoff, president of the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers. “That's not a solution.”
At least part of the food issue goes back to NCC's food service vendor, the Compass Group. It said it was financially incapable of providing its food service under the terms of the agreement and moved to terminate it, leaving college officials scrambling to find a replacement, NCC officials and documents show.
College officials maintain that they are working toward a more permanent solution, noting that NCC has a request for proposals for a food service provider. Companies have volunteered to supply NCC with bagels and pizza.
“The food issue is not the issue here,” Jerry Kornbluth, the college’s vice president for community and governmental relations, said on Sunday. “It’s personal,” he added, citing union leadership.
NCC is facing a deficit, a no-confidence vote of its administration, and the approval of a plan to consolidate several academic departments.
“What we're doing is, we’re trying to save the college,” Kornbluth said.
Siminoff echoed the sentiment but added she wants the college to survive for the “hardworking kids who want a chance at life."
With Joie Tyrrell
Education: Howard University
Tiffany Cusaac-Smith came to Newsday in 2023 after being a race and history reporter at USA TODAY, where she wrote enterprise and spot articles examining how the past shapes the present. Previously, she worked as the race and justice reporter at the USA TODAY Network of New York, covering issues such as criminal justice reform, housing, environmental justice, health care and politics. At The Journal News/lohud.com in Westchester County, she covered Yonkers, the state's third-largest city. She also worked at The Associated Press in Atlanta.
Honors and Awards: Criminal justice reporting fellowship with the National Press Foundation; New York News Publishers Association award for distinguished investigative reporting; Contributed reporting for Best of Gannett honor; Member of Table Stakes, a program funded by the Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund and managed by the American Press Institute to transform local news.
