Free-speech chicken: Campus leaders react to Chick-fil-A controversy
Matthew Hazlett / The Towerlight
Few throughout the month of July could order a signature sandwich from Chick-fil-A without thinking of the public relations nightmare the fast food chain faced from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Pro-LGBT activists and organizations drew significant attention to the donations that Chick-fil-A made through its charitable arm the WinShape Foundation, which totaled more than $2 million (2009 onward.) These funds, according to WinShape’s IRS 990 forms, were sent to groups with documented anti-gay agendas such as the Family Research Council and Exodus International.
Chick-fil-A’s partnership with the FRC in particular attracted a media following because of FRC’s support of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality bill, often dubbed “Kill the Gays Bill.” The bill would criminalize same-sex relations, which in certain cases would result in the death penalty.
Local and national media ran with the story, sparking debate and discussion through social media, causing some to renounce the restaurant altogether.
A petition has circulated University of Maryland, College Park asking for administration to reconsider Chick-fil-A’s presence on its campus.
Kyle Milligan, who started the petition, said that he felt Chick-fil-A’s corporate message ran counter to the environment that College Park has attempted to foster.
The petition, which has over 850 signatures as of Tuesday, was also supported by College Park’s Pride Alliance.
“I recognize that there are contracts in place that prevent immediate action on the part of the University, and that they have to respect business agreements,“ Milligan said in an email. “On the other hand, Chick-Fil-A’s contract expires at the end of this year, so I’m hoping and expecting that the University will choose not to renew it, especially if there is vocal student support for that decision.”
Milligan said that he has often encountered individuals who say that his petition does not respect Chick-fil-A’s free speech rights. But college campuses, he said, are excellent venues to vocalize opinions regarding political matters, particularly about hot-button issues such as gay marriage.
“It’s important that people share their opinions, especially when it comes to something as fundamental as the question of what constitutes a marriage,” he said.
Towson Queer Student Union President Adrienne Luciano said that she and her group welcome discussion from all parties regarding Chick-fil-A, but that she has yet to organize a protest or petition, and does not plan to unless the 100 active members of the QSU come to a consensus.
“Right now we’re not boycotting anyone, we’re not harassing anyone, we’re not into that” she said. “Right now in this tough economy we need people to keep their jobs. And that goes for all the Chick-fil-A restaurants. Don’t drive up there and harass them. [The workers] need the money.”
Though community members across the country have demanded the removal of local Chick-fil-A locations, Towson’s campus has yet to experience heavy backlash from the controversy, according to Joe Oster, associate vice president of auxiliary services.
The chain has been present on Towson’s campus since before Oster took office, over 18 years. Chick-fil-A is a nationally branded concept that holds a contract with the Compass Group, the parent organization of Chartwells. Chick-fil-A, through that contract, receives a five percent commission from their food sales at Towson.
Dining services does not contribute any additional fees, meal plan or food sales to Chick-fil-A.
“When people go to Chick-fil-A, they are making the personal choice to go to Chick-fil-A,” Oster said. “They are making the personal choice to understand that a portion of what they’re paying for their sandwich and nuggets, that money is going to Chick-fil-A.”
Oster said that he has conducted his own research, but has not discovered history of the company being discriminatory.
He has also attempted to judge students’ and community members’ reactions to the controversy, but has only received one letter calling for Chick-fil-A’s expulsion from campus.
“It’s too early to gauge student concern,” he said.
He also said that a boycott would likely be the best possible method of ousting Chick-fil-A from campus, if students felt strongly about it.
“We make our decisions based on a business decision,” he said. “If the students decide they don’t want to participate in going to Chick-fil-A, and Chick-fil-A becomes a bad business decision for us, we get rid of it. It just doesn’t work out.”
Towson Student Government Association President Brandy Hall released a statement regarding the controversy.
“SGA is here to reassure students that we are here to talk to if they feel offended and/or concerned about the topic, as we are a voice for the students,” the statement reads. “Although we are an unbiased party, we are fully prepared to take the students’ concerns and make actions if necessary.”
She also said she would personally support the senate passing a resolution for the removal of Chick-fil-A on campus, but that the executive board does not get a vote.
“I would encourage the senate to take a stand on what they think is right,“ she said. “If a lot of students [express concerns], we’re not going to let them be upset in their own environment.”
Chick-fil-A also made a statement against the accusations on July 31.
“The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect –regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender,” the statement reads.
Chick-fil-A also has campus locations at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Frostburg and Stevenson.
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Troll, Troll, Troll
So, should we punish someone, or a company, for their beliefs?
Dan Cathy has every right to be for or against whatever his faith or conscience directs him. He said he was in favor of traditional marriage, that is his right. Does saying one is in favor of one thing mean that you condemn the other, opposite thing? I am a Democrat and I favor most of what they stand for. You cannot infer that that means I condemn Republicans and what they stand for.
The country needs balance – balance between conservative and liberal, democrat and republican, just like the founding fathers and the framers realized. Strong polarization will just make you sound like a spoiled whiner…and it has!
Is there food tasty? Yes? Then eat there.
Done. That was easy!
Just as Dan Cathy as every right to his beliefs and opinions, other people have the right to theirs, which includes to the right to condemn him and not patronize his businesses.
You have a right to speak your mind, but not the right to no consequences.
The consquence of Dan Cathy speaking his mind about gay marriage and giving money to groups that oppose gay marriage (and homosexuality in general) is that many people will not want to support him.
They will not want to give him money so that he can turn around and give it to others that campaign against their own beliefs.
“Oster said that he has conducted his own research, but has not discovered history of the company being discriminatory.”
Does he not have teh Google?
This is dumb. I don’t want them to remove Chickfila from the susq. I love the waffle fries and chicken. If you don’t support it don’t eat there. More food for the rest of us who do eat Chickfila. Also if all the other food chains such as McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys, or KFC came out and said the same thing would you stop eating there.
Mmmmmmm, deep fried cock!
Oh and @ Towson Student, McDonald’s is actually a pro-gay company. But just in case those companies did say they all support the slaughter of people, I would stop eating at a place I never ate at in the first place.
So, McDonalds is pro-gay. That means they are anti-straight. I am offended!
Twisted logic does not support an argument.
Put it to a vote. If a majority of the TU community want them gone then so be it. A pity, but so be it. We should be more concerned about about the crap we are eating when we go to any fast food slop chute.
Towson Student: Hear, hear!
Let’s be honest here. If the CEO of this business is homophobic there is a good chance he is also a racist and a sexist so why would anyone want to support a business whose profits go to hate groups?
It’s very simple people.
Everyone is permitted to say whatever the hell they want. CEO’s of Chick-fil-a, your grandmother, the fry cook at McDonald’s, and the transgendered Leslie from Nebraska… along with the rest of the world.
If you disagree with something someone says, take your own action (preferrably in a legal way). Whatever anyone says, makes no difference, because we all have the freedom of speech.
Chick-fil-a cannot be banned from locations because their CEO or even some employees said some hateful things, or support a hateful cause. We all have the freedom of speech.
What I fully expect is for people who disagree strongly with the statements made by the Chick-fil-a CEO, Dan Cathy, is that they’re decide not to eat there. You can protest if you want; whatever floats your boat.
If a location loses so much business that it no longer makes sense for them to stay open (or in Towson’s case, it is not good business sense to keep them there), then they will close. You will have made your point, and action will have been taken in your favor.
The end.
P.S. There is not much more that needs to be discussed on this issue.
It’s cute that you think your opinion is the end all be all, but in the future, have a bit more consideration for others.
And anyone who is trying to argue that Chick-Fil-A shouldn’t be removed because you like Chick-Fil-A and people who don’t should eat elsewhere, the thing to remember is that state funds are going towards Chick-Fil-A, in a school with various equality initiatives. It is at odds with what Towson University stands for and tells its students it will provide. Towsn University funds are being used to attempt to murder Ugandans for being gay. If you think that the fact that you like chicken and potatoes matters enough in this discussion, you don’t belong in it.
Geoff, what about my money (taxes) being used to kill unborn human beings? I am exremely offended by that so i vote. That’s a much more direct link than a stretch of TU supporting killing people in another country!
Vote with your feet in this case. Don’t condemn someone for what they believe just because you disagree with them. That is un-American. Plus you want to punish people who disagree with you. Unjust.
Heather – Your post is a joke, right?
@Geoff
Funds are going to Chick-fil-a because students want to eat there. It is also going there, because they have a contract to have their name and food cooked and sold there.
It’s just like the silly nonsense of the Boston Mayor trying to ban Chick-fil-a from his city due to the statements Dan Cathy made.
Nonsense. You cannot just ban a legitimate business because their CEO said something you disagree with. You CAN choose to take actions to prevent the business from coming, or thriving, so long as they are not illegal actions.
These statements from Joe Oster, are what I would agree with.
“When people go to Chick-fil-A, they are making the personal choice to go to Chick-fil-A,” Oster said. “They are making the personal choice to understand that a portion of what they’re paying for their sandwich and nuggets, that money is going to Chick-fil-A.”
He also said that a boycott would likely be the best possible method of ousting Chick-fil-A from campus, if students felt strongly about it.
“We make our decisions based on a business decision,” he said. “If the students decide they don’t want to participate in going to Chick-fil-A, and Chick-fil-A becomes a bad business decision for us, we get rid of it. It just doesn’t work out.”
The gist of what is being said is that the consumer makes the decision, as the consumer is the only KNOWINGLY supporting Chick-fil-a by purchasing their products.
Other than boycotting, other options are to petition for the removal of Chick-fil-a from campus. However, you cannot simply have them removed outside of their contract, as they have not broken any laws. The only thing that has changed since the contract began, is that now the CEO of Chick-fil-a has made a statement, and it has quickly become public knowledge where a portion of Chick-fil-a’s profits have been going.
Very mature response from Adrienne Luciano. Well done.
It’s not about what the CEO said, he has every right to his own opinions, it’s about how the company’s money affects people. They gave money to groups that supported killing gay people in Uganda. That’s a huge deal. I don’t see why people are pretending like the problem is nothing more than some dude thinking two same sex people shouldn’t get married. It’s more like, the company supports people that support the death penalty for homosexuality. Support it or be disgusted by it if you want but turning a blind eye to murder? That’s wrong, that’s anti-American and frankly it’s completely heartless.
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