Indiana University South Bend students were temporarily without access to Chicken Sandwich Deluxes in their campus dining halls.

Chick-fil-A, a fast-food restaurant based out of Georgia, was temporarily suspended from providing food at the university’s two main dining halls.

IUSB Chancellor Una Mae Reck reinstated Chick-fil-A as a food provider in the campus cafeteria and in the café of the Student Activities Center on Monday, according to an article published Feb. 1 in the South Bend Tribune.

The conflict arose when officials from an out-of-state Chick-fil-A branch announced it was supplying free food for a February seminar titled ‘The Art of Marriage: Getting to the Heart of God’s Design,’ sponsored by the Pennsylvania Family Institute. Some people at IUSB saw this move as an endorsement of anti-gay and anti-lesbian values.

‘I believe that making donations of their product is quite similar to a monetary donation and could be interpreted as being in support of these values,’ said Linda Young, co-founder of the Campus Ally Network at IUSB.

The purpose of CAN, according to its website, is ‘to visibly affirm and support the lives of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning students, faculty and staff.’

When members of CAN heard about Chick-fil-A’s donation to the event, they brought it to the attention of the university to try to seek action, said Ken Baierl, director of communications and marketing of the university.

‘The faculty members and students who are a part of the ally network suggested steps be taken,’ Baierl said. ‘They brought it to the administration.’

Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Dan Cathy said the accusation of his company being anti-gay and anti-lesbian is not true.

‘We have no agenda against anyone,’ Cathy said in a news release issued Jan. 31. ‘At the heart and soul of our company, we are a family business that serves and values all people regardless of their beliefs or opinions.’

The accusations against Chick-fil-A were the main focus of debate on IUSB’s campus since Jan. 26, when the student newspaper made the controversy known to the public, Baierl said.

Chick-fil-A is a company that openly follows Christian values and biblical principles, according to their website.

According to the press release, Chick-fil-A’s corporate purpose is to ‘glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us, and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.’

Reck, the chancellor of IUSB, said in a written statement obtained by the South Bend Tribune that she was confident this decision was the correct one for the campus.

‘I appreciate the input I received from people on all sides of this issue,’ Reck said in the statement. ‘I heard from many students, faculty, staff, alumni and citizens from across the area, the state and the country. No one was shy about their point of view. I am confident this decision is the correct one for the campus, although I know not everyone will agree.’

snbouvia@syr.edu

 

 

 

 

 

Published on February 1, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Stephanie: snbouvia@syr.edu | @snbouvia