Coke out, Pepsi in at UA McDonald's

The UA's Memorial Student Union McDonald's restaurant yesterday ripped Dr. Pepper and all other Coke products off its menu, replacing the beverages with Pepsi and Slice.

McDonald's was forced to comply with a multimillion dollar, University of Arizona contract that requires campus food outlets to serve Pepsi products.

"Since we're in the union, we have to switch to Pepsi too," said Dave Osgood, McDonald's manager.

Pepsi moved into the UA this summer after it signed a 10-year, $16 million contract that took over most of the university's vending machines and restaurants. The beverage manufacturer also pledged $3.4 million in support of the Memorial Student Union's reconstruction effort.

Unlike other union eateries, McDonald's was unable to make the July 1 conversion because its menus were covered with Coke's insignia.

Osgood said McDonald's corporate offices had to send new pictures that display unaffiliated beverages.

"All of our pictures had Coke on them, so we had to wait until McDonald's sent us stuff without Coke on it," he said.

Osgood said McDonald's employees yesterday listened to criticisms and compliments about the Pepsi take-over from student customers.

"There have been some complaints and there have been some people who are happy," he said.

While some students prefer Pepsi products to Coke, not everyone was thrilled with the switch.

"It's evil," said George Mitros, a former UA student who graduated with an MIS degree. "There are no ethics to capitalism."

Mitros, 21, who was sipping on a large Pepsi, said he can taste a major difference between the two beverages.

"I think Coke tastes much better than Pepsi," he said.

Communication freshman Stacy Lees said she prefers to wash down her french fries with a Diet Coke.

"It's too sweet," she said about her large Diet Pepsi.

Lees said she couldn't figure out why the UA would take away her beverage of choice.

"I don't understand why - it doesn't really make sense," she said.