Dear Sunstar,

I recently read your article about how there may be a positive change in the vending machines in Butrovich.  I find this article surprising because this discussion should be about the whole campus.

Over the last few years I have been surprised by the university’s leadership regarding the vending machines.  This is due to the fact that there has been a country wide discussion about the vending machines in our elementary schools, as well as our diets as Americans.  As there was a push in Fairbanks for a healthy living program in our elementary schools, the university has done nothing.  As former President Clinton worked out deals with beverage companies regarding food and drink in public schools, the university has not changed. Actually if anything, we have seen less variety of drinks in the soda machines.  Remember when most machines still had orange juice in them?

Many of the buildings on campus only have a soda machine and a vending machine in them. In the soda machines are typically 6 types of soda, and 4 waters.  There are no juices, energy drinks, teas, coffees, or other options. The only health option is water, and many people would like a bit more of a healthy selection.  In the snack machines most of the options are sugar laden candy bars, and even the “healthy” snacks do not make typical health food lists.

It’s time that the university started setting a positive example on this issue, and started trying to improve the health of students and workers on campus.  It can do so easily, while still giving much freedom to the vendors to stock products that sell better in various areas.  The University just has to provide some additional guidelines for its vendors when the next contract rolls around (if not earlier).

These guidelines should set aside a certain percentage or minimum of each vending machine to a certain type of product.  For example a good requirement for soda machines would be to require one of the slots be water, one needs to be a juice, one needs to be an energy drink, and one needs to be a coffee or tea based product (preferably less sweetened or with added cream for health reasons).  That provides a list of health options for the vendor, while giving freedom to sell any type or brand of product within the range of the guidelines. For example the juice could be orange juice, apple juice, a mix of fruit drink, etc…  This would give the company freedom to place the best juice to sell at that location. Likewise the vendor could sell the best energy drink, tea or coffee product in the brands that they provide, as well as leave room for their sodas.  A similar guideline could be to require 10% of snack machines to have healthy snack options that meet a certain spec.  At least give people the option of eating healthy when visiting the closest source of food or drink to them on campus.

The university members have long been leaders in healthy active lifestyles. It is time that the university as a whole steps up to provide positive leadership to back up the students and workers of campus who want this lifestyle.  This could be combined in a healthy lifestyle plan for campus that incorporates the snack bars, pub, Lola Tilly Commons, a wellness initiative program, and possibly teaming up with local restaurants or businesses around campus (they could offer and advertise a specific meal they sell as healthy, meeting the healthy lifestyle plan guidelines).

I should note that there appears to be a wellness initiative program provided by statewide that may extend to all UAF students and staff, but in my opinion has gotten little press on lower campus.  I do not think most lower campus students know about the UA Health In Action program

(http://www.winforalaska.com/uahealthinaction/home.html).  It might be advisable for the Sun Star to investigate what all programs are available to students, faculty and staff regarding wellness, healthy lifestyles, and what-not.  Also, investigate what might be lacking to the same, such as a walking plan of campus, or support of these plans by the different departments on campus.  This would help guide the leadership of our campus to areas that need attention if they are to guide us to better living.

Michael Wilson