Since 1975, the Roots Café, operated by the Food Co-op at Binghamton University, has provided campus-goers with organic, locally grown meals. The relatively low prices are made possible with help from a $4,000 annual budget from the Student Association (SA). Next year, the café will open for its 42nd year and its first with no funding from the SA.

The café was informed at a budget meeting in late April of this change, which will go into effect in August. The SA explained this recent chance by pointing out that the Co-op operates more like a business than a social club — funds from the SA are not allocated to businesses.

Losing their $4,000 budget was a shock to the Food Co-op, and they have been left scrambling to find a way to restructure in order to function smoothly next year. To do so, they have considered the option of creating a social group called Students for Ethical Living and Food (SELF) that will exist alongside the Co-op. SELF will serve as a new social group and will provide the volunteer workforce for the Co-Op, while the Co-op will function as an autonomous business. They are hopeful that SELF will receive SA funding and help to advance a mission that overlaps with the Co-op’s.

The Co-op disagrees, stating that its purpose has always been to provide a food alternative and never to make money as a business. This goal seems earnest and arguably channels a more student-group oriented set of priorities than that of any business.

Regardless, it is clear to us that this situation could have been handled better. Yes, budget hearings occur in April, but to strip an organization of a substantial budget in one fell swoop is unnecessary and impractical. Surely issues with the organization’s structure could have been raised sooner so that they could make a good-faith effort to change.

The Food Co-op is a campus institution, and a welcome relief from the barrage of Sodexo food from every direction. Also, it serves the vegan and vegetarian options that Sodexo sometimes lacks. Furthermore, it supports local farms and connects students to food from their community at reasonable prices.

We hope that FinCo looks out for the group next year as it faces an uncertain future, and is willing to step in to provide budgetary assistance should things go south. Students should have the option to have easy access to healthy, organic, local foods right in the University Union.