The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 6, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 12, 2005 Page: 3 of 8
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The Rambler
Opinions
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Photos by Christine Pcirce
ROSEOAIE
Fort Worth City Council:
Here is a perfectly laid out
Fort Worth map with
Wesleyan at the center. If we
are so close to the heart of
Fort Worth, why do the roads
surrounding our school and the
Polytechnic community have
potholes the size of small
Volkswagens?
Restaurant etiquette:
Never underestimate
the power of first impressions
The old saying, "Treat others as you
would like to be treated," should apply
to all facets of life. Unfortunately, some
of us forget to mind our table manners and act
respectful at the dinner table, maybe without
even realizing it.
I admit that I am, unfortunately, included
on this list. I abruptly found this out at the
Mexican Inn a few weeks ago, while eating
and studying with a friend. Those
who know me best agree that the
descriptor "soft spoken" is not usual-
ly used when describing me.
Well, the older couple sitting
behind us showed how perturbed
they were by my/our behavior as
they left. After the assumed husband
paid his check, he stared me down
for several moments as if 1 wanted
to rumble! I thankfully declined his
offer via discrete non-verbal meth-
ods.
This experience made me wonder: How
are we as Wesleyan students portrayed by area
establishments, specifically restaurants?
While attending a previous university, 1
learned from a speaker during an all-campus
gathering that our school had a bad reputation
for behaving quite childishly.
I talked to to employees at the Mexican
Inn, 2700 E. Lancaster Ave., and the
International House of Pancakes (IHOP), 1664
S. University Drive, to find the stereotype of
how Texas Wesleyan students act at nearby
eateries.
"Some treat us very good, while others are
bad," Yolanda Carmago said. After working 20
years at the Mexican Inn, head waitress
Carmago truly knows her customers. She says
she waits on Wesleyan students at least every
other day, if not every day.
Starting with the good news, Carmago
said, overall, Wesleyan students tip "pretty
good." But from her facial expressions, "pretty
good" meant "mediocre," which is still better
than deplorable.
She said she loves her loyal clientele.
Carmago truly enjoys when her Wesleyan
patrons continue to come back and dine, even
after they have graduated.
However, I must reveal the other side of
the coin. Carmago does not appreciate students
who do not look her in the eyes when they
speak to her. On top of that, more than once
have Wesleyan's finest ordered tersely and
tossed menus back at her. Although I have
never been a waiter, I do know that I probably
would not choose to have pointy, laminated
objects tossed in my direction.
Over at IHOP, waiter "Johnny from the
Bronx" said Texas Christian University stu-
dents tip better than Wesleyan students.
However, he said what Horned Frogs give in
gratuity, the Rams make up for in how they
personally treat him. He said Rams seem to
Michael
Meier
appreciate his service more and let him know
he is doing a good job.
For the most part, however, Wesleyan stu-
dents seemingly dine in the shadows. Janel
Nelson, IHOP waitress for the past five
months, cannot pick out Wesleyan students.
But pointing out TCU students does not seem
to be a tough test.
"How can I pick out TCU students?" she
asked. "They're ALL wearing purple!"
Is that a lack of school pride from
our student body? Maybe that needs to
be addressed in a future column.
"Johnny from the Bronx" said he
recognizes Wesleyan students more
than his coworkers because he often
works the cash register. At that time,
all college students receive a 15 per-
cent discount so they're usually flash-
ing their student ID.
Manager Natalie O'Bannion said
she never has bad experiences with Texas
Wesleyan customers, mainly because she never
distinguishes them at first glance. In general,
she says she usually never has problems with
the college crowd.
"Ninety percent of our business is from
college students, especially after 6 p.m. Most
are pretty good at blending in with the mood of
the restaurant. They also seem to have a com-
mon respect for other students trying to study,"
O'Bannion said.
So what should you do to make sure you
are treating the restaurant workforce well?
Carmago at the Mexican Inn reminds students
to not treat employees like servants.
"Smile! Say thank you," she said. "Treat
them like real people."
In regards to tipping, O'Bannion informs
students that waiters and waitresses only make
$2.13 an hour, and if they work certain blocks
of tables that just order coffee, her employees
cannot make much money.
"When they come in and sit and study and
not eat, it can get frustrating," O'Bannion said.
O'Bannion also said the trend seems to tip
$ 1 or $2 per hour spent at her restaurant if you
don't order any food. Many students also tip
the waitresses the 15 percent they get back
from the IHOP student discount.
As students, faculty and staff, we are
ambassadors of Texas Wesleyan University.
Even if we do not wear Texas Wesleyan garb
when we are out and about, we need to act in a
i
way that is representative of the true quality of
our school and its population.
Make waiters, waitresses, managers and
even the cleaning staff want to serve us and get
to know us. Never underestimate the power of
first impressions or the influence of continual
pleasant attitudes toward those working in our
community.
Michael Meier is a master of business administra-
tion graduate student and is a staff writer for The
Rambler.
Ayah
Sayyed
i
Constructive criticism:
Use SGA forums
t
for expression
You know what one of the great things is about
this campus?
Student-Faculty ratio? GEC? Campus life? If
you answered yes to the first three, then you are •
correct. What I had in mind this time, though, is
the forums that Student Government Association
often holds.
SGA is hosting a security forum, for instance,
on Oct. 13, but one of the most important forums, I
believe, is the President's Forum. Students in atten-
dance are allowed to ask questions of the current ■;
university president in a casual
manner. This year's forum was
held on Sept. 27, and President
Hal Jeffcoat answered ques-
tions about such hot topics as
the Rosedale restoration, O.C.
Hall and the future math and
science building. (Read the
Oct. 5 Rambler for more
details.)
The great thing about this
forum is that Jeffcoat takes
time out of his busy schedule to
actually fill the students in on what is happening at.
our school. Fortunately, this year produced one of .
the larger turnouts from students over the past
years, but there were still only about 20 people in ,
attendance.
What amazes me are the students who com- -
plain about our president and this school and not
knowing anything. If the students went to the
forum, then they would know about the projects
happening on campus, such as what may happen to
O.C. Hall or if there is ever going to be a political
science lounge with a coffee machine and a word
of the day list.
SGA holds the forums during free period so
that many students have the opportunity to show
up. I grow tired of students coming up and com-
plaining about not knowing anything on this cam- '
pus or not knowing who President Jeffcoat is. This
forum isn't held so Jeffcoat can say he is involved."
I believe it is held so students can voice their con-'1
cerns about what is happening and get to know the
president.
I did notice, though, that nine out of the 20 stu-
dents (including myself) who were there are politi-
cal science majors. How sad that half the people in'
attendance would be from any one major. Where
were the science and math majors? If you guys
___were there, you would
have heard about your
department's wonderful
building that is in the
works. Where were the
theater and art majors that
always talk about the people who try to break into
the Law Sone building? How about the students
who complain about Stella Russell Hall? The presi-
dent did talk about that building and what is going
to happen to it, but if you were not there, then you
wouldn't know.
Lastly, where were students who desire staff
members to continue to be a part of the robing cer-
emony? If these students had showed up, they
probably would have heard Jeffcoat address this
subject.
Jeffcoat did an excellent job at the President's 1
Forum; he answered questions, stayed after a bit to ;
mingle with the students and discussed what is
going to happen to this school. He is giving us a I
chance to catch up and figure out how we, the stu- ;
dents, are going to either A) make the project move;
faster or B) try to voice our concerns and make
changes to that project. So please, do not come up ;
to me and complain about a thing on this campus I
or the president if you haven't been to a forum. It's >
a waste of my time and of yours. ;
Ayah Sayyed is a senior international relations major
and is a staff writer for The Rambler. !
This forum isn V
held so Jeffcoat can
say he is involved.
Kelli Lament, inhiser
Renee Greer, photo editor
Tyler Atkinson, campus life editor
Michael Kennard, ad/business manager
Christine Pein e, managing editor
The Rambler
Fonnded in 1917 as The Handout
Harold G. Jeffcoat, Publisher
Member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.
Whitney Fowler, editor-in-chief
Virginia Thompson, news editor
Patrick Johnson, sports editor
Colleen Burnie, entertainment editor
Opinions expressed in The Rumbler are those of the individual author only
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas Wesleyan community as a whole
Letters to the editor: The Rambler, a weekly publication, welcomes all letters.
All submissions must have a full printed name, phone number and signature; however, confidentiality will be granted if requested
While every consideration is made to publish letters, publication is limited by time and space
The editors reserve the right to edit all submissions for space, grammar, clarity and style.
Letters to the editor may be subject to response from editors and students on the opinions page.
"We are not afraid to follow the truth...wherever it may lead." -Thomas Jefferson
Address all correspondence to:
Texas Wesleyan University, The Rambler. 1201 Wesleyan St., Fort Worth, TX 76105.
Newsroom: (817) 531-7552 Advertising: (817) 531-7582 Fax: (817) 531-4878
E-mail: twuramblertoyahoo.com
Rambler Ratings
Lh
Thumbs up to everyone who
attended the Willson Lecture
Series. Wasn't it awesome?
Thumbs up to whoever con-
trols the weather. The weekend
was beautiful, and, despite the
rain and dark mornings, it is
still great to walk around cam-
pus without breaking into a sweat.
Ls
Thumbs up to the Texas
Wesleyan Medal Award
Recipients for 2005. Though
we all cannot make it to your
celebration Oct. 21, we hope
m
Thumbs down to those who
park in two spaces. We have
parking lines, use them! The
only time people want to run
into your Camaro is when you
you know you are appreciated!
park over the line!
IH1
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Fowler, Whitney. The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 6, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 12, 2005, newspaper, October 12, 2005; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth253352/m1/3/: accessed June 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas Wesleyan University.