🚀 go-pugleaf

Here is a letter Sree wrote a little while ago, but which I did not post then
at his request.  Note that It does not include details of the threats and
harassment that Sree has received at the hands of dining services.

Please repost widely.
--Prem

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To the people of the CMU campus community:

Please spare a few minutes to read the following facts about the
ongoing problem between CMU Dining Services (which administers food
service on campus) and us (Sree's Foods).  We have tried for the past
six months to deal with this problem ourselves without bothering the
campus community but we cannot take it any more. Every day we work
hard to keep customers happy by providing good, affordable food and on
top of this the dining services staff -- Annette Allison, Frank
Fulmer and Dave ?? -- harass us and threaten to throw us off the
campus.  Kindly take a look at the following facts.

Facts
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1) In Jan 96, Dining Services called Sree's and informed them that by 
popular choice of the campus community, they were to be the Indian
food vendor on campus, and that they would be given their own
independent location on the ground floor in building D.  Problems had
earlier been experienced with the presence of multiple vendors of
Indian food in Porter Hall.  Dining Services Director Anette Allison
and Mr. Sree signed a contract to the above effect on 1-15-96 (a copy
is enclosed).

2) Later, Anette Allison called Sree and said that some people
apparently wanted Taste of India food also and could he accommodate
Taste of India in his location for one month?  They promised to move
Taste of India at the end of one month.  Sree's trusted Dining
Services to keep their word and said that would be fine, as long as
they made sure to give Taste of India their own place within a month.
After one month, Dining Serices did not move Taste of India.  Two
months passed, then six months and they still didn't move him.  Sree
complained to Dining Services of problems of working in the small
place with another vendor (it had become crowded as previously in
Porter Hall and paid $500 as the first commission cheque (check #153)
and said to Dining Services that if they did not move Taste of India,
Sree's would not continue to pay the agreed 10% commission -- since
Taste of India had gone back on their word.  If Dining Services were
to move Taste of India, then Sree was willing to cooperate and follow
all the rules once the problem was solved. 

3) Sree plans to offer customers better service and greater variety if
he is able to use all the space that is allotted to him.

4) Sree's Foods makes use of only water and electricity service in
their current location.  We do not demand or want a fancy location.
Sree's is a small operation.  We want to keep prices affordable and
provide quality food and service.  We do not want to pass on overheads
to customers.  This is the kind of service we believe in.  We are
satisfied to make our living on a thin profit margin.  Given our
operation size, it is not feasilbe for us to be on campus very long
hours like some vendors in the University Center.  We currently
operate 11AM to 2PM (Mon through Fri) and 6PM to 8PM (Mon through
Thursday).

We request your support and recommendations in fixing this problem.
We would like dining services personnel -- Annette Allison, Frank
Fulmer and Dave -- not to harass and threaten us, and to settle this
matter as originally promised by giving us the entire space as they
oroginally agreed to do.  They have created this whole problem by
giving part of my promised space to another vendor.  Sree's foods will
follow up all rules and pay rent once the problem is solved.  We are
always flexible in this matter.

Thank you,
Sree and Vydehi.