Comments on: UC Berkeley Students Protest Panda Express

By: westcoaststyle

westcoaststyle — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:05:07 +0000

Panda Express is your typical Chinese chain restaurant to cater to the American palette. If you think there's anything authentic about the food…. I'm sorry.

By: Yelena

Yelena — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:26:12 +0000

I signed the petition against it just because I really don’t like Panda Express, I got sick every time I ate it. And I disagree that the spot has been hard to rent out, a restaurant owner in lower sproul said the university is trying to drive her out by doubling her rent in order to make room for Panda Express. There is plenty of cheap healthy food in lower sproul and I really don’t want that to be displaced!

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:14:41 +0000

Coverage seemed to be a bit slanted by the Berkeley reputation, but there have been a credible groups of students at Cal for almost 20 years who have consistently opposed franchises on campus. Aside from the bookstore, there never has been one. Past attempts to let in chains would have meant the pushing out of the local vendor owned and operated eateries that occupy the basement now–one of which has been there for more than 20 years. It might seem innocuous, but it really is about the character of the campus and the way the student owned operations have managed to go a different route when all others never even had the chance to choose.

That said, I’m going for some orange chicken right now.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:48:19 +0000

Lame. They have good food!

By: Efren

Efren — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:30:56 +0000

Yeah, I think that’s why the “anti-chain” argument doesn’t make a lot of sense, since there are many progressively run chains which jibe well with Berkeley and SF, and we all remember the Red Mango fiasco with Yul Kwon.

And like I’ve said before, I think boycotts are too simplistic of a tactic to get your point across since financially it’s just used to generate more publicity and increases sales. It’s funny how a bunch of well written, snail mailed letters (NOT emails since those are likely to get thrown out) speaks a lot louder than random protests that aren’t cohesive and make people feel good while doing absolutely nothing to change a perceived injustice.

By: Moye

Moye — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:20:17 +0000

I am team orange chicken for life. I know it’s not authentic Chinese food but it’s still better than McDonald’s or Subway.

I can’t wait until they try to protest against PinkBerry!

By: daniel

daniel — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:58:35 +0000

the “WTF” tag is correct

By: Rayfil @ Campusfork

Rayfil @ Campusfork — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:07:12 +0000

Efren,

Can’t agree with you more. I too am partial to orange chicken. But the positive just as job creation and tax dollars are positive notes.

As a UC Berkeley grad, I believe that the orange chicken truly taste better than most of the dish by the mom and pops.

I have seen restaurants come and go at UC Berkeley.
In this climate, the focus is on creating jobs and vacating the spot.

keep writing!

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:40:30 +0000

Panda Express—great cultural cross-over fast food! One both of us can agree on… Wife won’t generally eat at Mickey-D’s- even in China…I will, I will!

By: Efren

Efren — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:24:09 +0000

haha, yeah, I get my moments too. orange chicken on fried rice will take care of that for a good 2-3 months.