Daily Egyptian Spring 04
Spring '04 Edition
Former Munchie Man employees gather to protest administrative decision for removal
Kate Galbreath
Daily Egyptian
The Faner Hall Breezeway was littered with brightly colored picket signs Thursday afternoon as former Munchie Man employees and SIUC alumni gathered to protest the business's removal from campus.
"Hell no, Munchie can't go!" they chanted, waving signs that read "Save Munchie."
SIUC alumni and former employees of the vending truck, located in the circle drive in front of Brush Towers, came to protest on the day Mayor Brad Cole declared "Munchie Day."
Former employees came from the far reaches of the United States including Alabama, Utah, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Nevada, Florida and Chicago on about one week's notice. Each protestor wrote what state they were from along with a message on the back of their sign.
Barrett Rochman, the original Munchie Man, and his son, current Munchie Man James Rochman, were at the forefront of the protest in their honor in hopes of reversing the decision made primarily by Housing Director Ed Jones.
"My father started this business, but I think it's going to take someone above him [Jones] to let us stay," James Rochman said. "I'm there providing a service for students, and they seem to like it."
Tom Guiman, a Chicago resident, proudly wore the original "Mr. Sandwich" shirt he wore while working for Barrett from 1976-1983.
"I still own the first house I bought with the money from the Munchie truck," he said. "I wouldn't have got out of school without Barrett."
He showed off the shirt, just one of many given to him by Barrett at Christmas every year, as a testament to how he valued his employees. The arm of the shirt was detailed with army-style marks denoting years served.
"This is just another reason for a reunion," he said. "We were laughing about it a couple weeks ago, and here we are."
Barret said his affiliation with the University has been long-lasting and "like a family." He also noted how he donated money to the now Rochman Softball Field just before the University notified him of his son's imminent removal.
"It's like we got under their radar," he said. "It was sadˆ tacky, more like it. We owe this campus and we came through. We know who we are and it's sad they've forgotten us. There could have been a better way to do this.
"Jones came out and gave issues like crowd control. If you want them out say it. Don't cloak it in some sort of respectable way. [Vice Chancellor of Student Development and Enrollment Management Larry] Dietz said 'Hey they'll get their candy bars somewhere else,' but it's not that. It's the event of maintaining. It's like Winston Bagels, it adds something to the community."
Fern Palmer, another former worker who still lives in Carbondale, said she hoped the protest would attract the attention of the administration.
"They'd be wise to listen," she said. "Forty years in the same placeˆ that says something."
Pinny Rochman, Barrett's wife, recounted the early days of the then-titled "Mr. Sandwich" truck.
"I made the sandwiches on my kitchen table," she said.
Clyde Swanson worked at the truck during his college years and during the riots of 1970.
"A lot of kids went through college working on the Munchie truck," he said. "I don't have any idea [why administrators want the truck to leave]. It's a real service to the kids," he said.
Swanson also recounted driving a young woman to Health Services in the Munchie truck during an ice storm when even emergency vehicles could not drive.
Meetings between administrators regarding the future of the Munchie Man have taken place during the past months and continued into Thursday.
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Last update: Friday, April 30, 2004 at 2:25:46 AM
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