Commons chains too common

My heart broke a little to learn that Campus Pizza was being replaced by three chain fast food restaurants ("Sbarro and DQ replace Campus Pizza," Aug. 31). I was further disappointed to learn that Michael Leukowicz was behind all of this, arguably The Commons' most lucrative entrepreneur.

First, I think it can be well argued that opening a fast food franchise is by far the lowest, most unoriginal, greedy, and meaningless business model that exists, ranking only slightly higher in my opinion than the street retail of illicit substances. Leukowicz stands by branding because "people know what they are getting." He may be surprised to learn that many of us do in fact know what we are getting with the arrival of another franchise. A fast food joint gives nothing to the community it is in, and serves only as a blind and deaf corporate dog to feed its customers overpriced garbage. Why can't Mr. Leukowicz open a real business up on our campus instead, one with a soul?

To be fair, Mr. Leukowicz's Subway does offer healthy options to students, but this only reflects that there is a desperate demand on this campus for some decent food. Mr. Leukowicz has taken full advantage of this; business is so good at Subway that he doesn't feel the need to offer any specials or participate in any discounts advertised at off-campus Subways. Why not let the students who line your pockets save a little bit of money, Mr. Leukowicz?

By opening up another franchise eatery Mr. Leukowicz has taken away one more thing that made UB a unique experience. Call me quixotic, but I thought a university was supposed to be a place that nurtured ideals and ethics, and above all rewarded creativity. Leukowicz seems to only care about profiting as much as he can from students, and doesn't deserve to take up space on this campus. If the new fast food places take Dining Dollars, it will only show that FSA endorses Leukowicz's bleak corporate vision for the future of UB. To be frank, the whole thing makes me want a stiff drink; it's a pity I can't get a beer in the commons anymore.