At least 26 students lost their on-campus jobs this week when the Lakeside Deli and Saluki Grill drastically reduced hours of service.

The grill and deli reduced hours Tuesday to combat what administrators say was improper use of the facilities, but some student workers at the grills say the cuts are unfair to them.

Both facilities, originally open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., now do not open until 5 p.m.

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University Housing decided Friday to reduce the hours, and some students say they did not receive notice until the changes went into effect on Tuesday.

Student worker Megan Fleming, manager of Lakeside Deli, said she was told to fire 16 of 24 students on Tuesday by an administrative official.

The administration just told us Friday we were closing down. Some didn’t even know until they saw the paper Tuesday, Fleming said.

Student worker Rick Shadid, manager of the Saluki Grill, said University Housing took polls last year across campus to find out what the students were wanting in their food service. Eighty-five percent of students polled wanted what the two snack bars became this year, an alternative to eating cafeteria food at any time.

As a result of the poll, University Housing extended the services offered by the grill and deli, allowing the facilities to accept meal cards and meal transfers.

There were never any limitations set on the plan, Shadid said. The only limit they did set was it would be $3.50 for each meal. They never said what could or could not be bought on the meal card; just that the card would equal $3.50 each swipe.

Edward L. Jones, director of University Housing, said he went to the Saluki Grill three to four times to evaluate the situation but never went personally to Lakeside Deli.

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If I have to look at every piece of housing to make a decision, then why do I need people to work for me? Jones said. It would be impossible for me to go to every place when making a decision for housing.

Elizabeth Fulk, Lakeside Deli’s other student manager, said they should have never bothered hiring anyone.

People came in for two weeks, worked their butts off and then found out that they’re fired, Fulk said. Business went up completely, but they still shut us down. We were fine, but they never saw that because no one came over to evaluate us.

Jones said he knew nothing about the terminations, and felt it was uncharacteristic for this to be happening.

Some student workers, including Fulk and Shadid, said they suspect the administration of cutting hours because of a drop in the cafeteria’s business and the increase of business in the grill and deli.

For some student workers this means a reductions in their federal work study and their cash flow, Shadid said.

Eric Roach, who managed the Saluki Grill in the mornings, said he lost his work study and has a wife and child to be worried about. Roach has classes and another job and could only work mornings. Shadid said he doesn’t understand why the administration cut the hours at all.

The hypocrisy asking all the students what they want, giving it to them, and then closing it down, he said. They acted as if the problem was within these walls and not within the system that they made. Now they come in here and tell us we don’t have a job because of their decisions.

Jones said the move to reduce hours is in reaction to overuse and misuse of the grill and deli by students.

The main problems (were) people buying non-food items on their meal card laundry detergent and bulk items that do not meet a meal equivalency, he said. The grills were constantly being overrun some people were abusing the grill and the purpose for it.

Shadid said in an effort to make the grill and deli more receptive to students needs, the administration decided this semester to let students use their meal cards at both facilities. However, no one was told that students had to buy food on those meal cards. He said there were very few times laundry detergent was bought on those cards.

That soap comment was B.S., and Jones knows it, Shadid said. There were maybe three times someone bought detergent and it was after that they said not to sell it, not before. Yeah, people did buy chips and soda, but why not? You can eat it later. These people are all over 18. Shouldn’t they be the ones to decide what does and doesn’t count as a meal?

Mary Morgan, assistant director of the University cafeterias, would not reveal who made the decision to fire the student workers, and would make no further comment at press time.