co-op

Two years ago, Panda Express approached UC Berkeley planning to be the first fast-food chain on campus. Through non-transparent, “wouldn’t-take-no-for-an-answer” (according to a senior administrator), back-door negotiations and tens of thousands of dollars spent on planning and negotiating by Panda, the Store Operations Board (SOB) voted to sign a letter of intent to enter into a contract. In the winter of 2008, through dedicated work of a handful of leaders, students became aware of this unhealthy and unsustainable corporate chain’s attempt to brand the campus and launched an anti-Panda campaign.

After hundreds of hours of research, dozens of lobbying meetings, 1,300 petition signatures and unprecedented student attendance of every spring SOB meeting - plus the introduction of our idea of a student-run sustainable food coop as an alternative - the Panda contract was brought to a vote.