Should fast food franchises be on college campuses?

Fast food is often a hit or miss for people. Some people are regular customers at the local Burger King because they like the speed of the meal offered by drive-thru's (a sign that makes things even faster by omitting three letters), the cheaper costs, or the greasy tastes. On the other side of the spectrum are the people who are somewhat disgusted by the idea of fast food and avoid the seemingly unhealthy lifestyle all together. And of course there are those in the middle who use the advantages of fast food in a pinch when there is very little time or when preparing your own meal is out of the question. If this overview has not been too biased, I will state that I am a twice-a-year kind of person; rarely ever buying from fast food restaurants.

Although I will admit that they have their benefits, and I certainly can't deny that they are successful, fast food franchises should not be offered on college campuses. Even though they may have salads on the menu, it is pretty well understood that fast food is typically far from a healthy meal...just watch the movie Super-Size Me. Having fast food franchises on campus would in no way aid students in the struggle against the "freshman 15." For although one could argue that students have the choice to eat healthier, the option for fast, satisfying (due largely to fat content) could be extremely tempting and as we know, fast and easy.

Fast food was also designed, in part, to provide fast, on-the-go services. This is useful for people traveling to work or taking a day trip to visit another state but for students living on a college campus, the amount of distance they need to travel is limited and for the most part, can be accomplished on foot. Besides, on a college campus what food isn't fast? The dining halls are usually located in central parts of the campus and there are cafes and snack shops in various other buildings all of which are easily accessible and conveniently located. It is almost guaranteed that there is be somewhere on campus to get food at all hours of the day and for a great portion of the night. Therefore, fast food franchises would not be any more beneficial in the aspects of saving time or availability.

Eliminating the "fast" feature, McDonald's wouldn't have much left besides the popularity of their food which often has a fat content over 60% daily value in each burger! (The Fast Food Explorer website) I do not have enough information to compare the health factor of fast food to the food provided by the campus dining services, but I would imagine that not having fast food franchises on campus would be a healthier decision. So Ithaca College does alright; I do not think that they are in any need of a acquiring a fast food franchise on campus.