Petitions for and against campus Chik-fil-A continue

Photo by Wikimedia courtesy of Creative Commons.

Bianca Ordonez/Contributing Writer

Students have debated whether to eat more or less chicken on campus since Chick-fil-A’s CEO made a stance against gay marriage in 2012 with public comments and anti-gay endorsements.

To date, the petition to remove the corporation from Parking Garage 5 Market Station has 49 signatories while the petition to keep it has 83. This is a small nudge at a University with over 50,000 students, but the controversy is still abuzz at Modesto Maidique Campus.

A recent mobile app called Voterade created by alumni Juanky Robaina to match students with Student Government candidates didn’t fail to plug in the question: Should Chick-fil-A be removed from campus for their support of anti-LGBT nonprofits? How important is this issue to you?

“When I see an injustice happening, I try to do all I can to make it right,” said Stella Russotti, a religious studies sophomore who began the petition to remove the restaurant in 2012.

The petition states as follows: “Removing this restaurant from PG5 will send a strong message that FIU stands up for the rights of all their students, faculty and staff.”

Supporters of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender rights still have mixed feelings.

“I would never want to limit a business’ freedom of speech, so I don’t think that Chick-fil-A should be forced to quit,” said Andrew Davidson, an anthropology and art history major. “However, I wish enough people were compassionate enough towards LGBT causes that they would boycott Chick-fil-A to the point of going out of business.”

“I would never want to limit a business’ freedom of speech, so I don’t think that Chick-fil-A should be forced to quit,” said Andrew Davidson, an anthropology and art history major. “However, I wish enough people were compassionate enough towards LGBT causes that they would boycott Chick-fil-A to the point of going out of business.”

The controversy was sparked in 2012 when CEO Dan Cathy was quoted in an article by the Baptist Press titled “Guilty as charged.” Cathy was described as a “warm, common man who is deeply committed to being a faithful Christian witness.”

Cathy was asked to comment on the opposition the company has faced because of his support of traditional marriage.

“Guilty as charged,” he said. “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”

Cathy’s statement does not alarm students.

“One thing is good chicken, the other thing is gay rights,” said Kevin Robert, a junior majoring in accounting. “People can choose to eat there or not. Don’t screw over everyone that likes it.”

“One thing is good chicken, the other thing is gay rights,” said Kevin Robert, a junior majoring in accounting. “People can choose to eat there or not. Don’t screw over everyone that likes it.”

Andrew Becerra, former president of Stonewall Pride Alliance, weighed in.

“I am very mentally opposed to it. I am very against it [Chick-fil-A] being here.” said Becerra, international relations and political science major.

However, Becerra mentions that the University should take into account the consequences of removing the establishment.

“FIU should take the responsibility and offer those that would lose their jobs another place to work,” Becerra said.

Not only does Chick-fil-A serve thousands of students on campus, but employs many of them. This raises concern to students who are afraid of the petition successfully closing the restaurant down.

“You’re not only taking away good food, but you’re also taking away jobs,” stated sophomore biology major Gaby Sanchez, a frequent customer.

Business Services did not respond to Student Media’s request for an interview with a Chick-fil-A representative, manager or employee.

“I noticed nothing has been going on with the Chick-fil-A situation for a while,” Russotti said.

-news@fiusm.com

2 Comments on "Petitions for and against campus Chik-fil-A continue"

  1. No Gays in VA | April 7, 2014 at 10:57 AM | Reply

    If stella Rossotti was actually a religious christian then why woould she support Gay marriage. Just wondering…

  2. U.S.A. Land of the free!
    IS IT???? If you say anything, and I mean anything anti gay, you are a gay basher in this politically correct country. What happened to my freedom to disagree?
    Closing down chik fil a because they said they are against gay marriage.
    You say injustice, SERIOUSLY.
    Your comment is injust, closing down a business because of the way you see society,and decided that your socialist, dictator way of thinking is right.
    If you don’t like it, that’s to bad. Deal with it, Just like you say to me about Gays, deal with it.
    Don’t STOMP and chik fil a’s American RIGHTS because you don’t agree.

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