

Chartwells protest fizzles at Lakeshore but one student sparks petition
EtobicokeHumberNewsSpecials Oct 15, 2024 Dela Dorkenoo

by Erika Damaala & Dela Dorkenoo
The anticipated student protest over Chartwells food services was underwhelming at cafeterias on Lakeshore campus on Thursday Oct 10. Only four students showed up at the residence cafeteria. One of them was Kieran Baker, a student interviewed for the Skedline.com article published last Monday about the planned protest against food plans at Chartwells.
Baker, a second-year student in the acting for television and film program, is also in his second year in residence. He told Skedline earlier this week he found out about the protest from the Instagram page @humber.chartwells_protest and wanted to join to show support for his fellow residents.
“The food is generally not good. Almost everyone you talk to on campus will say the food is overpriced and takes too long to get to you. You can be waiting upwards of 40 minutes for a $12 burger. The prices have increased by $2 for almost everything since last year. I can take a fraction of the money for the meal plan and only buy groceries and be better off,” he said earlier this week.

Last Thursday, Oct. 10, there were also two uniformed security guards patrolling the residence cafeteria in case the protest did happen. By 12:30 p.m., there was an update on the @humber.chartwells_protest Instagram stories directing people to go to the main L building cafeteria across the campus. Fifteen minutes later, nothing. There wasn’t any gathering of students upset about food at the new location either.
Baker came over to the L building cafeteria but left after seeing there wasn’t a protest. He says he was disappointed by the lack of a turnout and feels a petition may be more effective. “I’m going back to my dorm, process my thoughts, work on this petition and I will give you an update,” he says. So far he has 20 signatures and plans to get more.
We reached out to the Instagram account @humber.chartwells_protest about the protest turnout and this was the response:
“Miscommunication about the location of the protest and issues with non-resident students signing into the building caused confusion. Despite the low turnout, I’m still in talks with Humber leadership and optimistic about promises made to change. I believe students were heard today and accept that as a positive step forward”