Getting to Know Denise

by Samantha Polon

Tuesday March 7, 2006

The “Who’s Denise?” signs covering Bates Dining Hall and the Pub direct students to seek out Flik’s new Director of Food Service, Denise Sombat.

Sombat, who is a registered dietarian of 20 years, came to Sarah Lawrence from her position as Director of Training at SUNY Albany. She replaces former Flik director Marco Morales, who has become Director of Food Service at Manhattanville College.

“My husband transferred to the area and I was already working with Chartwells [the company that owns Flik] at the time. The process unfolded after I was told that there was an opening at the college.”

In trying to develop a presence on campus, Sombat has started a campaign to ensure students she is an available presence on campus.

Students were given the opportunity to meet Sombat in the Bates dining hall and enter a raffle to win $100 in Flik cash.
Sombat hopes to raise awareness of the change in management, hoping to get students involved in deciding what they eat.
The campaign’s objective to get student feedback has generated a positive response from students who want to see change happening within Flik.

“Students are not used to having the opportunity for feedback. Until you find out that Denise just wants to get to know students, you don’t know what a good idea it is,” said sophomore Marjory Sweet.

First year Liz Stitzel says that she “feels like the raffle and the campaign are good ideas, but students who want to make suggestions will start to contribute only when it is made clear that the objective is student feedback.”

“I’m really enjoying it here, but I just wish that I knew more students. They need to feel comfortable coming to me with their thoughts and feelings. Good or bad, I need to know how I can make changes,” Sombat said.

When asked about the “Who’s Denise?” campaign for student involvement, students offered many suggestions about how food services could be improved.

“The school should find a way to have a better quality of food available outside of Bates time. There should also be opportunities for student employment, to help reduce the connection the school has with Flik,” said sophomore Tess Mix.
Sophomore Drew Paryzer also said that he believed that the food was overpriced but said that “the workers do seem to work pretty long hours.”

In the spirit of her predecessor, Morales, Sombat will continue the use of organic produce from local farms at the health food bar.

“I would like to continue offering a variety of nutritious foods, maintaining quality and eye appeal presentation.

“I also am eager to work with Carrie Summa, our Pub Manager to see what type of new food items can be offered in the Pub [or] Atrium. I am also working closely with our Progressive Produce committee members to develop the local and organic produce options,” Sombat said.

In addition, Sombat said she would like to introduce “lighter fare as well as items that are seasonal to spring.”

“We are also continuing to look at the menu mix. Hearing what students want and what they would like to see is so important to ensuring that we have what they would like. I want to know how I can change things to please the students,” Sombat said.