### Vendor Accountability and Equity forwarded site info to hannah and Chelsea emailed [Supplier Diversity team ](https://www.uwb.edu/planning-administration/fiscal-audit-services/business-diversity): Hi friends! I'm among the UW Bothell staff concerned about the exclusive contract assigned to [Aramark](https://violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/parent/aramark "https://violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/parent/aramark") for food services on the UWB campus.  I found the Supplier Diversity Program page while looking into UWB's commitments to ethical vendor sourcing. I strongly agree with your Vision statement for our campus, **"The University of Washington will utilize businesses whose ownership is representative of our diverse and local community."** I have some questions I hope you can help answer.  What's the structure of the Supplier Diversity team, and who are the individuals on the team? Did the team have any participation in the review of the contract terms with Aramark, or the granting of rights to choose vendors in the initial PPP contract with Capstone Development Partners?  Are you aware of any meaningful oversight by the campus community in the choice of Aramark? And are there any mechanisms for accountability built into the contract? Access to food is a central concern in every community. Giving Aramark access to our students in such a visible and symbolic role on our campus demands increased community participation to uphold the University’s commitments to choose equitable and socially responsible vendors. Thanks for any help you can provide, and thanks for the valuable work you do on our campus. UW Bothell Vendor Accountability and Equity ## Concern: UW Bothell needs more public accountability in its campus vendor selection processes, as evidenced by a  new ten-year exclusive contract with Aramark Food Services for all [campus food](https://www.uwb.edu/food) vending, catering, and future residential dining. [Aramark](https://investigate.afsc.org/company/aramark) is widely known on campuses nationwide for its extensive history of exploitative business practices against students, company employees, and incarcerated people, including serious ongoing labor, safety, and environmental violations.  Since 2000, Aramark has been found [liable for nearly $20 million in compensation in 131 legal cases](https://violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/parent/aramark).  Aramark is currently subject to a [class action lawsuit](https://clearinghouse.net/case/17339/) for using forced, uncompensated labor of pretrial detainees in California.  Aramark was chosen by the property management and [Private Equity Investment firm](https://capdevpartners.com/about-us/) building the new Campus Village student housing. The ten year contract awards Aramark exclusive rights to catering events on campus, operation of the POD, and all other dining options on campus other than [Stopwatch Espresso](https://www.cascadia.edu/services/foodservices.aspx#stopwatchEspresso) in CC2.  The [UW Supplier Code of Conduct](https://finance.uw.edu/ps/sites/default/files/Resources/charts/Code%20of%20Conduct%207-29-16.pdf) includes terms requiring that vendors on campus may not use forced labor,  must pay minimum wages,  and must ensure other basic human rights for their workers. The supplier code should have prevented the Aramark contract. [](https://sites.google.com/wtkns.com/vendor-accountability/home#h.ck3oxddfb0uv) ## Response: UW Bothell Office of Planning and Administration [Supplier Diversity Program](https://www.uwb.edu/planning-administration/fiscal-audit-services/business-diversity)  offers the vision our community deserves -- one incompatible with Aramark:  [](https://sites.google.com/wtkns.com/vendor-accountability/home#h.icjw22gutv6q) ### "The University of Washington will utilize businesses whose ownership is representative of our diverse and local community." Access to food is a central concern in every community. The selection of an exploitative global conglomerate for exclusive access to student life in a highly visible and profoundly symbolic role on our campus demonstrates a need for new accountability relationships to uphold the University’s commitments to equity and social responsibility.