UMC cafeteria offers variety, lower prices than Union

In addition to its proximity to doctors, sick people and medical students, the UMC cafeteria offers lower prices on certain items. Students say the food is fresher and better at UMC than at the Student Union.

Julie Steinbuchel, business sophomore, said she eats at UMC because it is closer to her room at Babcock Residence Hall than the Student Union. Babcock is just south of the medical center.

"It's just so close," she said. "And I think the food is better. The salad bar is definitely fresher, and it is also cheaper. You can't beat all those things."

The UMC cafeteria offers a wide variety of food in one place, as opposed to the different restaurants in the Student Union.

UMC also takes the All Aboard debit card as payment.

UMC offers different entree specials every evening that are similar to the entrees available in the Fiddlee Fig in the Memorial Student Union.

Prices on some items, particularly those sold by weight, are lower at the UMC cafeteria.

Miss Karen's Frozen Yogurt, for example, is 29 cents per ounce everywhere in the Memorial Student Union, but is 15 cents per ounce at UMC.

The build-your-own sandwich and salad bars are also cheaper per ounce at UMC. Sandwiches are 35 cents per ounce in the Union and 29 cents per ounce at UMC.

Salad is 25 cents per ounce in the Union and 20 cents per ounce at the medical center.

A hamburger with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles costs $1.10 at UMC and $1.79 at Louie's Lower Level. Grilled cheese sandwiches sell for $1.35 at both Louie's Lower Level and the Fiddlee Fig but are $1.25 at UMC.

Dan Adams, director of University of Arizona Student Unions, said the Student Union and UMC are separate entities. The Student Union's prices are determined by a bid system and university employees, whereas the UMC cafeteria is run by a private company.

"The Union sends out bids for items we buy in bulk, such as meat and vegetables, and we get the lowest price we can," Adams said.

"We are expected to be completely self-supporting, so we have to have things competitively priced."

Adams said the prices in the Memorial Student Union are based on the going rate in the community as well as the cost of supplies and labor to produce a certain item. He also said they try not to raise prices during the school year in order to be fair to students.

Jason Gusso, UMC cafeteria manager, said the cafeteria is run by Aramark, a private company.

He said he did not know how prices are determined or about the bid process in getting bulk items for the hospital. He did say that prices had not changed since Aramark took over the cafeteria's operation in October.

The UMC cafeteria also offers items that are not available anywhere in the Memorial Student Union, such as sushi and fajitas, but the Student Union offers Mexican food and Domino's Pizza.

Teresa Holt, marketing freshman and a resident of Manzanita-Mohave Residence Hall, said she did not know that the hospital had a cafeteria similar to the Student Union.

"I've never been there, and I wouldn't go there even if it is cheaper because it isn't very close to where I live," she said.

The UMC cafeteria is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

At least one facility in the Memorial Student Union is open from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.