When a school-wide vote resulted in the name “The Taco Shack” for the new Houghton College coffee house, the college deemed it inappropriate and turned the issue over to the SGA.
After Java 101, a small business previously owned by Greg Bish, closed this summer, Sodexo took over opening a new coffee house on campus. To decide on a name, Tina Powers, general manager for Sodexo and Houghton Dining Services, suggested the students have a say in the process. Sodexo and the college then created a school wide competition, allowing students to submit potential names for the coffee house room and then vote on those submissions, promising the winner $250.00 in Big Al’s money.
According to the SGA and Sodexo there were flaws in the vote, resulting in more votes for “The Taco Shack” than there are Houghton students — another reason why the winning name will not be chosen.
SGA held a meeting Tuesday, October 8, 2013, to discuss a potential solution. The outcome now stands that if an agreement cannot be made to keep the name Java 101, Cool Beans is next in line, followed by Boom Roasted, explained Dr. Pool, Vice President of Student Life.
“I just want it understood it’s due to the fact that it wasn’t taken seriously,” said Powers when speaking on why the room is still unnamed. Realizing the issue of naming was left to a group of students still unhappy in the change of ownership and overall feel of the coffee house, James Ward, Sodexo manager said, “In the long run it is probably best that Student Life and SGA make the decision.”
Long before Sodexo, Starbucks, The Taco Shack, and even Java 101, the room was used as a campus radio station. By student demand, SGA worked and raised the funds to open an on-campus coffee house which birthed the original Java 101. Since then the room has been in use by Houghton students, faculty, and community members, serving as a place not only to get their morning cup of coffee but also a place for studies, socializing, and numerous student-run events.
“I think having a coffee house on campus is a critical piece for students today,” said previous Java 101 owner Greg Bish.
When talking with Bish, his main concern, given the fact the only reason there is a coffee house is by student demand, is “that students still feel ownership to the space, proud of the space and have a voice in its future. ”
“I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of it for so many years and help give it direction,” said Bish.
As weeks go by and the room remains unnamed, students and faculty are faced with many questions. What will the name be? Who gets the prize money? When will the name be announced? As the issue of naming the room gets passed from students to SGA back to student life and so forth, there are no definite answers.
Pool expressed that a name should be finalized soon after October break along with a solution about what to do with the prize.