I don’t usually openly and vociferously oppose a lot of the voices I would normally disagree with on campus. I really don’t like to pick fights. Not to say I want to pick a fight right now, but after recent efforts to remove Chick-fil-A from the Union Food Court, I can only say: Let me enjoy my chicken, please.

What makes me say this is the simple fact that Chick-fil-A makes darn good food. For four years of my time at Eastern, that’s all I ever cared about in regards to Chick-fil-A, and it’s honestly what I care about the most in regard to its presence on campus now.

I have my religious and political convictions of course, but as an Eastern student, the last thing I want to see right now is for those Food Court patrons who enjoy Chick-fil-A’s products to be deprived of such a valuable option.

Those calling for Chick-fil-A’s removal seem to expect Eastern to be able to quickly find a replacement chicken restaurant.

From a business perspective, if the licensing agreement with Chick-fil-A is not renewed, what happens if Eastern doesn’t fill the empty slot in the Food Court for two years?

Money spent on the equipment and food and employees (paid for by the students) will be lost and Food Court patrons will be inconveniently left with one less dining choice.

I can only imagine what would happen if someone made such a huge deal over the fact that Eastern sells Pepsi/Frito-Lay and Kraft Foods products, since both companies openly support gay rights.

They would most likely be criticized for being discriminatory and whatnot, but would also be the subject of annoyed conversations discussing how the absence of Pepsi soft drinks, Baked Lays and Oreos would take away popular food and drink choices that students prefer.

I would be one of those students annoyed at the potential removal of those products.

Why?

Because I choose not to solely focus on how a corporation politically uses its money, but also how its individual products compare to each other in quality and price. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.

As for those who perpetrated the alleged hate crimes involving Chick-fil-A wrappers and chicken sandwiches being thrown at members of EIU Pride, I can say I don’t support or agree with those who committed those actions.

However, just because Chick-fil-A is being used as a symbol of their discrimination does not mean Eastern should not renew its agreement with the restaurant.

Again, it is not Chick-fil-A itself taking action, but those who find Chick-fil-A wrappers and sandwiches to be a way to (stupidly) express their opinions. If the discrimination and ignorance is the existing problem, then the removal of Chick-fil-A does not eradicate nor correct the problem.

What can be done?

I believe the ball is in the court of those calling for Chick-fil-A’s removal. We can argue on and on about free speech and diversity, but in regard to the college experience provided by Eastern, what will be noticed and what will have the most visible effect?

For me, it would be the loss of my favorite chicken sandwich.

Greg Sainer is a senior communication studies major. He can be reached

at 581-2812 or [email protected].