August 13, 2012

Contact:   Bill Giduz, 704-894-2244

News reports that Davidson College has "booted" Chick-fil-A off its campus are inaccurate and misleading. There is no formal relationship between Davidson College and Chick-fil-A and the restaurant chain has no facility on campus. The fast food chain is one of many the student-led Union Board uses to provide food at events it stages on campus. The student leadership at the Union Board—not Davidson College—made the decision to use other food suppliers until the full student body can participate in the discussion.

It would be inappropriate for the administration at Davidson College to insert itself into this relationship without the students' involvement. The student-led Union Board decides what suppliers it chooses to work with in this area. At the same time, it is important to clarify that the Union Board speaks only on behalf of its organization and activities, not for other groups on campus or the college itself.

The Union Board at Davidson is a student organization that plans and manages student events. They have occasionally served Chick-fil-A sandwiches as part of their "After Midnight" events. "After Midnight" has been a regular monthly Union Board activity since Davidson's Alvarez College Union opened in 2001. It offers students free food and some form of entertainment from midnight to 2 a.m.

The Union Board serves different menus at "After Midnight" throughout the year, and Chick-fil-A has been served once or twice annually.

The members of the Union Board are responsible for selecting the "After Midnight" menu. In light of a student petition calling for a ban on Chick-fil-A at "After Midnight," the board has decided to gather student input on the matter and discuss the request at one of its weekly meetings after classes resume on August 27.

Adriana Nassar, Union Board president, and Cameron Joe, Union Board vice president, issued a statement saying "The Davidson College Union Board is firmly committed to building an inclusive community that serves each member of our student body."