cafeteria will be closed twice a month (including tomorrow i think) for 'cleaning'. i hope they include means to get rid of the flies

i hope so...

personally i think this issue involves two sides of the community. 1st the cafeteria and 2nd the people who are eating there.

This is not a 1st grade school whereby students have to dunk their plates and cups into a so called "collecting bin".

But seeing the ever so fine campus cafeteria becoming like this, i personally things that its a very good thing is we could again, practice those kind of inforcement in the uni's cafeteria.

If not, let's just eat and behave like proper men should behave regardless whether we are kings or slaves, he all are in the same uni with the same title = "student".

well then, uncle signing off...
*point one finger to some one and the remaining points to oneself*

Thats right uncle..
sight~

I brought up this matter via email with the relevant officer before, and instead i got ridiculed for being 'overly critical' of the new vendors.
It wasn't as if I was criticising the new vendors as much as I was informing of the need to resolve this matter.

This was many months ago when they first moved in.

Of course it's much cleaner than during the times under the previous vendors, as I have yet to contract some form of the dreaded food poisoning bouts that was commonplace before.

aaa .. i didn't know that the SA committees would actually say that to you Mr. Unhappy. Well then, the authors of this blog will soon be talking to the SA exacutives regarding this blog and the impact on them.

Hope we can forward your worries to them. till then. take care
~uncle~

there was once i encountered a stray dog licking and eating the leftovers..

jz imagine how dirty is the plates and bowls.. EEWWW!

yeah me too!
And today i saw someone's fried rice had a steel wool's(the steel scrub which is used to scrub off stains on the wok)strand!
Good thing I warned him!God knows what could happen if he ate that!

Yuks..

Anonymous, do u take photo of the fried rice had a steel wool's strand? Do u complaint to the cafe manager?

someone concern student facilities

hi all there! how u guys rate d SA cafe's cleanliness? A.very good B.good C.average D.poor

a flat C. if i ever smell any mice around i'll be a D

maybe, its too crowded..

I hope there will be a picture shows that a small cockroach stuck inside a straw. This did happen on last year. Man I hope it won't happen again. Disgusting.

@GaYeeks1.0
Which is it? Do you hope for it to happen or otherwise? Make up your mind.

@Anonymous April 9, 2009 11:26 PM
I give it a D. Previous vendor that was kicked out is an E.

What I meant was I hope for the availability of the picture so that the cafe management will take it as a serious matter and try to improve the cleanliness of the cafe. What I do not hope is the tragedy might happen again. Understood Anonymous April 10, 2009 5:21 AM?

haha maybe we can ask the aunties at the cafe see dis blog

@Jockey_Joker
I believe the cleanliness issue has more to do with the cleaners rather than the stall operators.

@Anonymous April 10, 2009 7:08 PM

dude I wuz juz jokin'!LOL
maybe now we shud ask d cleaners 2 c dis blog
haha GOD DANG I love jokin

why dun students just organize events or sumthing to clean da cafe. i mean. why bother waiting for da SA, da cleaners, blaming oder ppl n stuff? go dere with a broom or sumthing n clean the mess up. ur food. clean it up.

@Anonymous April 10, 2009 8:08 PM
Right. We should get our brooms and sweep the table tops and swat flies with them.

While at that, we can prepare the food ourselves, and order our own raw ingredients to make sure that we have only ourselves to blame when there is presence of lizard dung, roasted/fried/stewed cockroaches & various assorted insects, Unknown Foreign Objects, etc..

Of course, we should clean up the dishes ourselves. Most economically, we should lick every plate/bowl/fork/spoon clean before applying detergent to reduce detergent costs.

Generalising this solution for everything is then simple. We should lick up all spillage on table tops and floors, counters and crockery.

Sooner or later the cleaners may or may not get upset that the students are trying to steal their jobs, but that's a separate matter.

(PS: I was going to relate the "Shameless Mass Mail™" (that was sent out to everyone) to this post, but then I remembered it was supposed to be 'confidential' (oh, the irony).)

Let's hope that they can improve on the cleanliness since they ask for closure of 2 days a month. However, I do think that they can actually do the cleaning each day after 10pm. In my opinion, the closure has brought inconvenience to those who are in campus. I do not understand why SA accept the reason from Delight stating closure for 'cleaning activity'. Any SA here can explain?

I didn't see much difference, even after saturday's cleaning. The mosquitoes were still there...

if cafe never do major cleaning then we have unhygiene food...later stomache at nite who want to bring u to clinic...

Lee, u r rite..i cant c they could do much cleaning after 10pm...b'coz most of the workers oledi tired for the whole day work. anyway, cafe closure but still have others food at opposite cafe ma...n d block a restaurant open as well ma..at least got food around campus rather than food crisis or no food at all...i think we must appreciate at least d uni mgmt hv do sumthing 4 d student... if compare 2 previous then v hv 2 eat grass n leaves leh...

Yea, i am thankful that the management has done a good job by giving us better cafes. However, the cleanliness of the main cafe has to be improved. We really have to wait and see if the cleanliness has improved. Other than opinion from 'In_closet', anyone else has other opinion?

@In_closet:
Mosquitoes? Of course you'll still see those around, because of the location of our campus...

Agree . . I am sick of the flies already . . Currently I prefer to cook by myself but someone stole my chicken!! Back to the topic, not only in SA, the cafe next door also popular with the flies. Welcome to flies castle . .

1 more thing, the employee( who do cleaning ) does not seem too friendly and LIVE . .

hey frens...now is flies season later around month of june n july will b more flies...as i know tat nearby the campus hv 2 chicken farms n that also the main cause 2 get more flies....my grandma hse is located near the chicken farm also hv flies problem. i think we must suggest 2 uni mgmt 2 clear the flies....pls thru in your suggestion now.

//personally i think this issue involves two sides of the community. 1st the cafeteria and 2nd the people who are eating there.

This is not a 1st grade school whereby students have to dunk their plates and cups into a so called "collecting bin".

But seeing the ever so fine campus cafeteria becoming like this, i personally things that its a very good thing is we could again, practice those kind of inforcement in the uni's cafeteria.

If not, let's just eat and behave like proper men should behave regardless whether we are kings or slaves, he all are in the same uni with the same title = "student".

well then, uncle signing off...
*point one finger to some one and the remaining points to oneself*//

Well said uncle...

They way few (not few - could say 50% of them) eat is DISGUSTING. I at times wonder how we have such students in Nottingham.

I personally suggest students to go Block A cafe or dami damai (the bakery shop) as we gave up with the Main cafeteria people. Myself & Yeswant (Food Committee Chair Person) Just gave up as we had to argue for freaking 2 hours to ensure that they give tissue. Another day, another 2 hours to ensure they provide sauces.

To Unhappy with SA,
Its not our decision to get those people here. I wish I can say more. But, I cant as I am still waiting draw into my conclusion. However,I sort of started thinking as we are just some clown of SA.

TO ALL,
How many of you support us during surveys. We dont get proper support from fella students (we are students as well). Its frustrating to go and check the cafe everyday. We used to do that. Most credits go to the food committee chair person.

We could have done bit more if the old cafe was not shut down. We were so tired when this new cafe was opened as we used to check if cats eyes provide enough / clean / even vege food for breakfast / lunch / dinner.

We tried our best pushing them to provide proper food. I would not say they provided better food. But, we kept going thrice a day and checked what was going on.

It may sound as a simple job, but it was not. When we say dont add carrot in vege curries, they add hell a lot of carrots. When we say make curry thick then make some watery thing.. Language was a prob. Finding recipes was hard as we cant give all recipes as we had to think abt the cost.

We could not do much as we started from scratch. So, we could not do much as we had to fix the basic stuff..

Everyone knows about the forest bar incident. Only our fella SA executives and very few students supported us. For the rest, it was some SRI LANAKAN's issue. The people who wanted to wipe their hands off, made such image and we went through hard time.

Some people even made fun of a dead person. We had to help his family & his close friends. So, the SA had to deal with that too.

We needed a break but exams came up. Then had to rewrite the constitution. Only SA Sec, Comm officer and few others did but still SA team did something...

LASTLY, Pointing out at someone is easy. Still, we suggest to go to other two cafes. We are not promoting both cafes for god sake, or getting any perks from them. We only go there. Once awhile we go to main cafeteria when we r rushing.

Why dont you guys suggest some constructive suggestions to make a change...

Mid of June we have to give report about our work. After that, I will make sure tat I will write abt my experiences here.

Till then dont point ur fingers just like tat & come up with some proper suggestion for the sake of us...

Hope no one misuse my title and write crap here.

Hey admin guys,
Please delete comments with SA Welfare Officer ID if I dnt send a mail confirming its my comment. Will use the SA Welfare Officer Acc for the confirmation.

The way. not they way*

I think it is totally bullshit to close the cafeteria for 2 days just for cleaning which doesn't improve the cleanliness at all, the flies still buzzing around.

The cleaner they sit around, instead of wiping their tables, they are just playing with their handphone.

they should find a way to get rid of the flies effectively instead of close for two days that doesnt makes any differet.!!

An official boycott towards the main one? scare them a lil to get them in line. that is what disobedient humans need. When they 1st came, most of them gave large portions and daimn they were friendly... and when probation is over.. well lets just say we dine in hell =( small portions, flies and hell yeah, that is a roach on the drinks counter!

This comments don't apply to the noodle stall. they are very consistent. bravo

SA Welfare Officer 2008/09
April 17, 2009

I didn't see there is a language problem. U just apply your personal interest into your duty. U alwaiz act yourself like all students interest without consult the majority students. For instance, fr ur above statement "When we say dont add carrot in vege curries, they add hell a lot of carrots. When we say make curry thick then make some watery thing.. Language was a prob." Based on wat you go to request like that? r u sure most of the students don't like 2 add carrot into d vege curries???? r u sure most of the students don't like watery curry??? this is all your though not represent majority of the students. I hear that u hv problem with d uni management during u hold a SA welfare officer. u better go back to look at the mirror to reflect your attitude and behaviour. I could said here that I voted d wrong SA Welfare Officer for d term 2008/09. pls think back and get all the student feedback about your performance during u hold SA Welfare Officer 2008/09, if u dare.

What makes you think that I have not consult the majority students. I cant baby sit everyone. I am not jobless to stand outside the SA and ask students if they are happy or not.

I can only act according to the fella students requests. Most vegetarians are Indians and they claimed that they didnt like the watery curries and carrot curry.

If you are brave enough, come and give the feedback abt my performance face to face and dont act like a coward here. You dont even have guts to identify yourself. I am ready for face to face feedbacks. I bet you dont have guts to come up to me and talk.

Yea I have problem with the management cos they didnt want to do what they supposed to do. Is tat a problem for you.

Get a life dude. You can tell from the way a person criticizes you. if that person voted or not.

//An official boycott towards the main one? scare them a lil//
Why dont we dont go their shop at all instead. If they dont get income then they have to change themselves.

Woo woo woo... Hold a sec guys... I was not aware of people "bitching" about me under the red carpet affair.

First of all, I'd like to thank Indra, Rauf, The Anonymous who knew about my ordering job and few others for ur kind words.

I am really curious about the person who knows abt my ordering job as even my fella executives only got to know about it a month ago.

Yea, I used to get sms asking to order for them as they dont have credit.. and they could only send me sms as they have added me in their active 10, and the txt cost only one cent. I had to order for them. I did that as a fellow student. But, how others know about it when I didnt even tell my friends.

Someone claimed that they dont hear from us. But, when we send out mails, they complain as we are spamming their inbox.

1 - Pls, Stop jumping as you guys voted us.You would have known if iam he or she if you have voted.

2 - Being on CALL is not RESPONSIBILITY .Check the constitution

3 - Jockey_Joker, I could not see any criticism here. All I see was bitching about me. Its not criticism.

4 - I managed to get into the position because I was representing International Undergraduate students in SSC. SSC is the welfare committee which used to directly deal with paul, security head, cafeteria boss, IT head, Accomm boss, and other bosses / heads.

5 - Sending mails to all students is a the only way I can completely avoid such calls in future. You can suggest if you know any other way to pass my msg to all students.

6 - Its NOT MY DUTY / PLEDGE to serve students. MY DUTY IS TO BRING UP THE ISSUES TO THE MANAGEMENT. I DNT NEED TO DO ANYTHING.

7 - U GUYS CANT INSULT US BY COMPARING TO THE POLITICIANS. Because we are SA Execs does not give any rights to those people to bitch about us.


//I know that Ian Pashby took the pain in improving the cafeteria, not the welfare officer//

Just curious to know if Prof told you or you are so closed to him to know what he is doing.

Man. All credits go to ONLY "YESWANT" - The only SOUL who stood besides me all the time. He started helping me out as a friend coz he is my best friend.

Later, I could not make anyone as a food committee chairperson as I wanted a person i know the most to handle that most. He did work with commitment even after he became the president of indian cultural society.

Prof.Ian gets "0" credits. Its all to Yeswant. Prof. only listen to us and helped us here and there.

I dont care if I dont get credits for the work we did. But, Yeswant should get credits.


You can bitch about anything but not about the bus. None got any idea abt the trauma we had when we were making bus schedules.

We made more than 15 schedules and Everything get rejected saying "the management cant pay lot for the buses"

I bet this is one of the best schedule we ever got. I put much effort to get it as I am a frequent user. We even stood at the bus stop and tent to do some freaking survey.

I am sorry to say that most chinese students gave shit looks and walked away without helping us. People dont make issue as I said something about chinese students. I am just saying what I observed for two freaking weeks to fix the time table.

The buses dont come on time, because they got to know that they are the only people here to provide bus service. They know the demand. I was given 2 options by the director. Cancel the bus service or shut my trap and just accept the service we are getting now. I realized that I was a fool to choose the 2nd option.

If you guys not satisfied with the 2nd option, pls do mail me I will pass the msg to the director. And we will all walk to semenyih.

I am really waiting for your reply via owa.


I think the admin of this site should block anonymous as anyone can write abt anything.

Though, I am glad with one anonymous kind words here; am not happy to see a comment about the newly elected welfare officer. He has not started his job, he will be starting from next sem only.

I am yet to pass down my duties to him as I have the last chance to deal something with the management before that. So, pls dont discourage him. I understand you are being kind to me. But, I know how few words disturbs a person; I am experiencing now.

I take this opportunity to thank those students who keep sending mails with kind - encouraging words since last may.

And whoever disappointed with me can see me in the office as really need to see how much you guys are disappointed.

Lastly, I need some help from these people who knows Ian & Paul than us.

//The cleaner they sit around, instead of wiping their tables, they are just playing with their handphones//

The management DONT LISTEN TO US unless we provide a pic as an evidence. Most of you guys have latest phones with 2+ mega pixels. Why dont you guys video or take a pic and send as evidence.

Whoever spent time to write here should have wrote to us via owa as that our official media. Pls do forward issues to owa.

It is a normal thing for people to just stand back, laugh, do nothing, expect someone to solve everything to ensure that they can live ideally, while they just sit around doing nothing, (or more accurately socialising with fellow students and pursue academic goals) and when the working party fails to do something up to standard, these people just start to point fingers at you and blame you for not doing a good job.

But in actual fact what have they done?
1. Elect someone to solve their woes.
2. Sit around enjoying the ameneties provided by the hardwork of someone
3. Constantly gauge the performance of that someone's work
4. Criticise publicly when that someone fails to perform.

Doesn't the above look like someone just laying back on the couch chilling, while someone else works at no pay (while costing him/herself time to study) to better the already comfortable life of that person laying on the couch, while having to suck in comments barked towards him/her by that person on that couch.

Well then you would come back saying that "It is your friggin job as an SA officer, and knowingly, you elected to take up such a job while knowing its concequences, so STFU and just do your job and it is in your duty to suck in criticism and comments from fellow students while putting up a smiling face".

Seriously, what the ~~~~ mentality is that? The SA, I believe, should only be responsible for compiling and analysing comments from the students and chanelling them towards the university management. It is still the university management's role to provide for the students wants and needs. The SA Executives, I believe are not accountable for students' woes and problems and whatever caused them to arise. You should feel lucky and honoured that someone with a passion came up to, without obligation, try to improve students' welfare by working towards the betterment of basic amenities, extra perks and entertainment, etc.

In the real world, you go in search of all these by yourself, talk to the management by yourself, and suck in your comments and be humiliated if you are rejected, form protest groups, etc etc. Now there's someone to help you improve your life, and you learn to criticise these caring and hardworking people. I say, you have no heart.

Now I use Anonymous not for fear of people knowing me, but for fear that my public profile will be filled up with spam/hate messages by unruly and uneducated people who wish for slaves to work for them for free.

y don't SA take up or tender 2 do the cafe biz like uk campus practise? at least could funding for events and activities use.

" SA Welfare Officer 2008/09
April 18, 2009 12:52 PM "

hello guys! we do a An official boycott d main cafe and we sit outside the entrance block d student and staff go 2 hv meal.

date boycott : 23.04.2009 @ 11.30 am

please let me know how many of yours will join me? I will tied a red cloth on the head on tat day.

My god!I didnt know that our students loves to write essays A LOT!
some even wants to launch a boycott!

well yes those are the people who want and hope for a change to be effected, as it affects their daily lives.

and as for long essay writing, my typing speed ain't that slow, so i spend 3 minutes, hoping to knock some sense into some ungrateful people who just sit around criticising but do not take any initiative to make a single contribution, and by that at least I've done my community a service, though not much it may seem.

SA Welfare Officer 2008/09
April 18, 2009 12:52 PM

& SA Welfare Officer 2008/09
April 18, 2009 1:26 PM

有胆放马过来!请不要污辱我们华人!不要把这话题成为种族敏感话题!当心你所讲的话 - "I am sorry to say that most chinese students gave shit looks and walked away without helping us. People dont make issue as I said something about chinese students. I am just saying what I observed for two freaking weeks to fix the time table."

This can lead to charge u under ISA u know or not! pls do not sleep n write here! keep ur eyes n ears open.

by the way, do biz of course see at d macro view where have ppl see at micro view.... for instances, i think d cafe mgmt will cook such curry sure there is a majority demand on it...u guys fr abroad hv vegetarian must adjust to d cultural here for vegetarian.....where hv ppl just cook for minority unless your subsidi to cafe. 人家吃盐多过你吃饭，走路多过你过轿。。。。leh..

I hope the hygiene improves... flies are generally a real nuisance... how did they come in in numbers im also not sure.. but to be honest.. the cafeteria is way better than back at first year.. My friend and I was gonna chill out, and he ordered a teh-tarik from the drinks counter. When the drink arrived, there was piece of 'hair' sticking out from the surface of the liquid. Furthermore, this 'hair' twitches!!! To our horror, he grabbed the 'hair', and behold - a cockroach... fully drenched in teh-tarik. Cant remember what happened after that... sorry if it was too graphical... you dont see these kinda things nowadays so be glad with what we have right now..

Oh, and to 'The Dude who wrote the essay', I whole-heatedly agree with u.. ;P

hey lowyat,
The welfare officer just stated that it's the majority of chinese students there who did not respond to the survey.

Now how is stating a fact trying to ignite something? I am a chinese, and I think you are too racial.

Now of course, as a chinese, i do know we generally seek to keep out of any trouble and petty, inconveniencing issues such as answering surveys.

But, that's also limited to personal behaviour. So, it's nothing racial dude. chill man.

and the welfare officer is already keeping eyes and ears open, as can be seen in she frequenting this blog to check on students comments and needs. so what are u complaining about.

Whatever you complain or criticise holds no water. As a uni student, can't you come up with something more constructive? sighs.

oh yea, and i wanna add this:

i believe the majority of people on campus who eat vegeterian are indians and sri lankans and asian people.

therefore, the SA represents the students voice.

so lowyat, are you trying to say that the cafeteria should stick to watery curry which is a really sub-standard thing as everyone knows? and u wish to adhere to that statement of yours so that you can further depict your dissatisfaction, or rather, the lust for superiority over someone in the manner of non-constructive words over the internet. < HAHA

1 more addition for tonite:

But yes, sorry to say i believe the welfare officer should select her words better, as these are not personal communication, and are actually publicly made available to 3300 UNMC students as well as the public.

It's perfectly fine if you don't want to, it is your right to use such words deem fit by you.
But I'm merely stating a fact that many people will be dissatisfied by this, and thus, you have created a bad impression.

So why create a few extra enemy, when what you can do is just switch a few words within a few seconds.

Just my two cents. :) hope it helps you.

Hi all,

I'm a pure vegetarian from India. My groups of friends and I no problem with the vegetarian food here and we enjoy it very much! I'm not sure others....we enjoy the vegetarian food in cafe very much....

All i can say, is that compared to what there was when i started in September, and what we have now... we shouldn't be complaining!

BUT!

We love to complain dont we, and im not saying its a bad thing, its just the way we complain thats important.

Anybody can come together and moan and curse about this and that, but if you really wanted to make an improvement... get off your ASS and get out there :-)

Those of you who know me can know that im happy to talk to anyone about anything, so if you really have something thats bothering you... like the Welfare Officer said, send it to us via the official channels so that we can use it as evidence FOR you!

Just wanted to say great job to the Admins!
Keep it up!

For starts, I feel that the previous welfare officer had put in a tremendous amount of time into making sure that the students were happy, and their messages were relayed to the necessary management. I have personally seen how unresponsive the management is to student issues, and based on that, I feel that she has managed to put a few words across, which have made an impact on student welfare in general.

It DEFINITELY is an improvement from previous years.


Moving on to the cafe, all I can say is that if we're complaining of the kitchen cleanliness, it's a different story. The increase in the number of flies could well be because of OUR inability to pick up after ourselves! I suppose that's one of the reasons why the "west" has developed as much. The levels of thinking. In Asia (and Africa where I'm from), I've noticed that we like to sit back and point fingers at everybody about anything, and never acknowledge good work.(we all LOVE to hate them, don't we?)
Thats the least we could do as part of a COMMUNITY. I have learned that unless we don't take action for ourselves, nobody else really cares. (this goes in reference to higher management)
If we do our part, and leave them in a situation where they HAVE to do something on their end, it might make life easier, wouldn't it? (all this, as opposed to sitting in our cozy rooms, and blaming the SA for under-performing!!)

I noticed that most students here still behave as though they're in High School, and I find that appalling! As university students, we are at a stage where we're fostering our personalities for the world of "work" (yes, sounds like a little fantasy place, doesn't it?)

C'mon people, if you want change, YOU got to fight for it! Nobody's just going to come and give it to you!

walau eh!!! hot topics here....ah beng lai liao lo.....!!!!!

i think the Convenience Store is still the GREATEST easting place. yee haw!

@Anonymous April 21, 2009 3:58 PM
Thing is, people are *paid* to clean the place. If there were no cleaners and we're explicitly to clean up on our own (say, put used cutlery in the bin, etc.), it's a different story.

@Anonymous April 22, 2009 4:08 AM
You must be pretty loaded with cash to actually eat from that place. Care to subsidise the rest of us students? :laughs

@SA Welfare Officer 2008/2009
The more you post with that kind of content (here and in email), the more respect you lose.
Ever since the email you posted, and followups here, I've lost all my respect for you.
Shame on you.

It's an unsaid rule that you don't go "bitching" about your grievances.

I'd like to point out that people are only "bitching" about you, and not the other SA execs. Why is that, I wonder?

Criticism comes in many forms: Polite, and Rude. But nevertheless it is still criticism, whether you choose to accept it or not.
I can say the same thing in different ways:
1. You useless, [insert any number of crude, vulgar adjective here] SA Welfare Officer, get your lazy ass working make the cafeteria cleaner!
I refuse to eat in this disgusting, fly-rideen pig sty!

Summary of content: Issue - Cafeteria is very dirty, please do something!

2. Dear SA Welfare Officer. The cleanliness of the cafeteria leaves much to be desired. There are plenty of flies buzzing around. Could you look into the matter? Thanks in advance.

Summary of content: Issue - Cafeteria is very dirty, please do something!

Note that both put forward the same issues. Of course the first is pretty damned rude with unasked-for insults, and thus frowned upon.

What happens if all complaints are rude? Do you ignore all of them since you don't consider them as valid criticism (as you said earlier)?

Back on the matter:
I can see that cleaners just wipe the tables with a damp cloth.
How about getting them to use disinfectants as well?

Yes SA Welfare officer, please learn from the above comment. You are losing respect only because of your choice of words.

yes you have done amazing work. But if you are going to be commenting and sending mass mails in the manner you usually do, people WILL lose respect for you. I WILL lose respect as well.


Thank You.

Do think before you write =)

My opinion is the cafeteria should stick this note at every corner:

Please bus your own tables!

why? because if everyone leaves their plate, unfinished food on the tables, or bones etc etc, and they don't get cleaned immediately, that's when the dirt gets piled up and hence the flies. I learned this when I was in the US, where in fast food chains and cafeterias, people bus their own tables unless they're fine dining. If everyone bus their own tables, tables can be used immediately by the next patron and all the cleaners have to do is just wipe the tables.

Yes, we may argue that they're paid to clean yada yada yada but what's wrong with doing our part in keeping our cafeteria clean? I believe it isn't hard.

I know that it is hard to be implemented due to the differences in culture. Things like that can't be changed immediately, which is sad. Even I admit I don't bus my table after I eat. It's a shame, really...

To all anonymous, do leave your names and put on a brave front while giving comments. If you plan shoot anyone here, do it in a constructive and proper manner.

To the SA Welfare Officer, keep your cool while replying critics. It is important not to lose your cool while your getting harassed.

regard, CWKen

AGREE~!!!! ^.^

I agree with CWKen about the bussing. Works for me!

@CWKen
Give myself a handle? Not as if it makes a difference, because we can just dump any name, and even impersonate people.
You should be able to tell which Anonymous is which from the writing style (Try figuring which Anonymous posts are made by me!).

Well, if people are paid to clean the place, it can be considered rude when you clean up instead (it can be seen as 'we're going to steal your job'). Unless someone puts up a notice saying that we should help bus the trays (even when we have cleaners), I'll refrain from doing that. However, if the SA puts up such a notice, I shall immediately comply without complaint, as I prefer it that way.

You say we 'Anonymous' folks should shoot people in a constructive and proper manner? I think you're discriminating against us just because we don't use a handle. Although some of the Anonymous posts are in bad form, you should note that the people with handles are not behaving any better.

Also, wiping tables with just a damp cloth isn't going to do any good. You need to use some form of detergent/disinfectant or the flies will still come en masse.

@SA Welfare Officer 2008/09
Complain via owa? Though you never satisfactorily reply in either medium, I still think it is better to post here, where people can have a discussion, instead of a 2-message personal 'conversation' that ends with a reply from you that can be summarised as 'I don't care about your opinion because I have a different one'.

On a side note, I, at least, don't appreciate your SHOUTING WITH ALL CAPS. It makes reading your posts slower and more frustrating.

@Ayub
It's good to see that there are other SA Officers that behave differently and in a more respectable manner. Keep it up!

Although I don't agree that we shouldn't be criticising anything. If no one complained, you wouldn't know what can be improved, no? And there is always room for improvement. =)

To all SA Officers:
I propose something different. Because of the relative indifference that we students feel we get (whether this is true or otherwise) when posting personal complaints through the official channels, we should post our gripes publicly.
This way, others who have similar complaints but never really voiced them out might gain confidence in doing so, knowing that there are other students sharing the same opinion.

No doubt it's true that some of us can be really rude and unreasonable, but it is your duty to correct any misunderstandings and improve the relationship between the SA and the rest of the student community instead of attacking us students for saying something you don't like, simply because it's your reputation at stake. =)
This is not just limited to SA affairs, it applies to any situation.
Suppose someone, through misunderstanding, spreads bad word about you, damaging your reputation. What do you do?
A) Stoop as low and begin your slander counterattack campaign, losing all respect you've garnered.
B) Beat that someone up. (Don't even think about trying this)
C) Be bitter about it and holler and shout etc., damaging your reputation far more than the damage the someone did.
D) Attempt to clear any misunderstandings and reconcile with the said someone, thus gaining more respect from everyone.
I think it's obvious which would be best (and most civil) =)

"Well, if people are paid to clean the place, it can be considered rude when you clean up instead (it can be seen as 'we're going to steal your job'). Unless someone puts up a notice saying that we should help bus the trays (even when we have cleaners), I'll refrain from doing that. However, if the SA puts up such a notice, I shall immediately comply without complaint, as I prefer it that way."

It's not a matter of stealing their jobs, its a matter of every little effort counts. The cleaners can wipe the tables or carry the bus-bin and replace it asap. So if there isn't a sign at a local park that forbids littering, you wouldn't refrain from littering would you as long as your not caught red-handed?

@ Welfare officer:

Why are you always pointing fingers at people and criticizing others, and you blames others for doing that, hypocrisy or what?

Also during the forest bar incident, every one was co-operative, everyone supported Sarankan and his family, did you see how many people attended the candle walk? Just because a single student made a stupid blog making fun of the issues doesn't mean everyone was un cooperative.

You have to understand that when you stand up for any post, for example SA welfare officer, you have to be ready to face alot of criticism, and so on...you can't expect everything to go your way.

You're not exactly winning support from people when you send an e-mail to everyone talking about how glorious your post is, and how important you are, and how angry you are about people calling you when you don't like, well you're the Welfare Officer of a 3000 strong university, it's not an easy job!

Last but not least, you always talk about "not pointing at fingers", you yourself pointed fingers at "chinese students" when they refused to take part in your survey, which they are fully entitled to do. And you pointed your fingers at Ian Pashby as well regarding the cafeteria.

I'm really disappointed in you....

LOL The SA welfare officer can't even speak English, I had to read each of her posts 3 times just to understand her broken English grammar....she mentioned a language issue while talking to the cafe employees, I bet you the language issues were from her side.

With respest to the anonymous who wrote on May 5, 2009 10:41 PM: Very well said =)

With respect to the anonymous who wrote on May 1, 2009 8:56 AM:

Your quote: "Well, if people are paid to clean the place, it can be considered rude when you clean up instead (it can be seen as 'we're going to steal your job').

"Yes, we may argue that they're paid to clean yada yada yada but what's wrong with doing our part in keeping our cafeteria clean? I believe it isn't hard."

While some might consider it rude, many would be more than happy with it since they're still getting paid. Moreover, I believe they still have other chores to do in their job so are we totally stealing their jobs?

Your quoted: "Unless someone puts up a notice saying that we should help bus the trays (even when we have cleaners), I'll refrain from doing that."

From previous comment: "My opinion is the cafeteria should stick this note at every corner:

Please bus your own tables!"

Your quote: "Give myself a handle? Not as if it makes a difference, because we can just dump any name, and even impersonate people."

If one is serious about commenting and does not mind being criticised, he or she will put his or her real name. I do not mind simply because I am willing to learn if I am wrong. I stand firm and am willing to be criticised if I am wrong.

Your quote: "You say we 'Anonymous' folks should shoot people in a constructive and proper manner? I think you're discriminating against us just because we don't use a handle. Although some of the Anonymous posts are in bad form, you should note that the people with handles are not behaving any better."

From previous comment: "To all anonymous, do leave your names and put on a brave front while giving comments. *IF* you plan shoot anyone here, do it in a constructive and proper manner."

Please note the "IF" if it isn't obvious enough.

Your quote: "Also, wiping tables with just a damp cloth isn't going to do any good. You need to use some form of detergent/disinfectant or the flies will still come en masse."

You're merely stating the obvious.

@CWKen:

Well, since you're not as experienced as I in determining who's who online, since there're lots of Anonymous here now, I shall call myself "Anon". Keep in mind that either way, someone may impersonate me by using the same handle, but this is generally considered as bad form.

For the record, I am Anonymous May 1, 2009 8:56 AM. The other Anonymous posts in between that post and this one are made by different people.
Hence, I shall only reply to only comments directed at me.

You said: "My opinion is the cafeteria should stick this note at every corner:
Please bus your own tables!"

My bad. I must've missed that one.
That would be great. I'm all up for it.

You said: "If one is serious about commenting and does not mind being criticised, he or she will put his or her real name. I do not mind simply because I am willing to learn if I am wrong. I stand firm and am willing to be criticised if I am wrong."

I'd like to point out something: That is your opinion, and it so happens that it does not fit mine. Just because that is your opinion does not make it absolute. Do well to remember that.

Also, going as "Anonymous" doesn't make me unable to learn. And it doesn't make me impervious to criticism either (Indeed, you are criticising me). Thus, your statement "I do not mind simply because I am willing to learn if I am wrong" has absolutely no relevance to the issue of being Anonymous, but I'm sure you're well aware of that.

You said: "Please note the "IF" if it isn't obvious enough."

Your point being ... what?
You are implying that not leaving your name makes your opinion unconstructive and improper.
I do not agree with that.

You said: "You're merely stating the obvious."

Brilliant observation! Why did I have to mention the obvious?
... because apparently, the obvious has not been done at all.

Have you ever observed the cleaners in the cafeteria?

Or have you even ever eaten there? If you did so you'd have noticed that they just use a damp cloth to wipe the tables; the same substandard level of hygiene you'd find in most local hawker complexes.

@Anonymous May 5, 2009 10:41 PM
That is indeed a rather poor analogy you made. This is why:
Littering is known to be wrong, and thus we don't do it even when there are no signs warning us not to do so.
Not busing however, is not wrong, as it depends on the policy of the eatery. Thus, it has to be explicitly stated as such whether the patrons should bus or otherwise. If not, by default, the patrons are not obligated to bus.

why should we students bus the trays? even though they call this student cafeteria it's not subsidised by the uni, we pay for it like we pay in any other restaurant(actually it's more expensive here). and one more thing the cafeteria is full of flies now...

To Anon:

yesh me noob in determining writing style =)

Although, I did not intend it as an easy reference of names in the first place.

I strongly agree with you that everyone has their own opinion. While I deem my opinion absolute in my own philosophy, I've never mentioned nor stressed that it's absolute and everyone is ought to follow it. We're all merely stating/sharing our opinions.

Your quite:
"You said: "Please note the "IF" if it isn't obvious enough."

Your point being ... what?
You are implying that not leaving your name makes your opinion unconstructive and improper.
I do not agree with that."

*scratches head*
OK, what I meant was "IF" any anonymous were to shoot/criticise/comment/complain, I suggested that they do it in a constructive and proper(in good form as you've said) manner. I NEVER mentioned that if you're an anonymous, your opinion is rendered irrelevant/unconstructive/improper. Geez, I'm wondering where that even came from.

By the way, I said it's obvious because when I mentioned that the table can be wiped and cleaned, I assume that people will take "cleaning" as "proper" cleaning which includes cleaning detergent/disinfectant etc etc. Guess I wasn't clear enough. My bad on that.

Anyways, kudos to you for your enthusiasm in giving constructive comments to the SA. THe uni needs more people like you. Some people like me are just too lazy to be bothered to give a good detailed comment. I hope the SA team will take note of everyone's opinion and comment and put it to work.

To Sharon:

If you haven't read my previous comments, in fast food chains in the US, people bus their own trays even they have paid the restaurant etc etc. It's not about paying the money or not, it's just a matter of a good habit, practice, or cultere that we can learn from others.

Your reaction is as expected from most people. It is just not our culture here so it is hard for most people to accept it. Thus, it is just an idea I would like to share with everyone =)

Just a simple thing like putting your trays of food back in some allocated area would most def. help the current situation with flies etc.

In Nottingham UK its more than common, its expected. its part of ones social responsibility to take care of the area around them. i don't think that clearing your own tray is much to ask.

As CWKen said above "it is just not our culture here so it is hard for most people to accept it".

I agree, but we are moving into a more globalized time with international manners and etiquette. Case and Point is here and now! A UK University in Malaysia.

@sharon, if you think the food here is expensive, try buying the food in Nottingham UK lol