Dive Summary:
- Despite its rapid spread, the anti-Chick-fil-A movement is hardly the first time students have protested campus vendors--Sabra Dipping Company, Sodexo, Nike and Russell Athletic have all attracted the ire of student groups over the years for one reason or another.
- Angus Johnston, a student activism historian and adjunct assistant history professor at the City University of New York's Hostos Community College, says that students feel a sense of citizenship in their campus and respond out of a perceived obligation to the campus community.
- A handful of college administrators responding to the controversy have distanced themselves from Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy's remarks while supporting diversity and freedom of expression, saying it is the right of students to patron whatever establishment they please.
From the article:
Two days after spicy chicken sandwich lovers across the country answered former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's call to celebrate "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" in support of the now-controversial fast food chain, many students who did not will likely instead take part today in "National Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A." And tomorrow, the petitions to remove the restaurant from dozens of campuses will continue. The Chick-fil-A dispute is resonating strongly with students. Chick-fil-A is hardly the only campus vendor with political ties that offend some students. ...