 "Photo: Courtesy Amanda Lund")
Every day, thousands of students trudge along the lines in each of the University of Massachusetts Amherst's dining commons, lamenting their lack of choices and diversity. They just don't know where to look.
Since 1973, Greeno Sub Shop, a completely student run co-op located in the basement of Greenough residential building, has been providing students with new options in a laid-back atmosphere.
Liana Rasmusen, a senior who has worked at Greeno for five semesters, said that the comfort level has to do with "not having to deal with anyone who could … get you in trouble … [it has] a home feel rather than a business."
With tables covered with boxes of Trivial Pursuit questions and puzzles, couches to lounge in, and a big painted wall bearing the word "Greeno," customers automatically feel at ease. Each employee is a co-manager of Greeno, as is the case in all student run businesses at UMass, so there are no overbearing bosses to deal with, keeping the mood light and fun. Music is always playing, usually from employees' iPods, and enjoyable banter between co-managers and patrons can be heard from the counter.
"A vast majority [of customers] are regulars," said Ben Janas, also a senior.
This feeling of familiarity allows customers to relax while they enjoy one of Greeno's many subs, each of which was created by co-managers, past and present.
Sophomore Sherezad Contractor said she enjoys eating at Greeno because "it's friendlier, cheaper and tastes better than Blue Wall, [and] people working at Greeno are students themselves," so it makes hanging out more relaxed.
Other patrons, like L.T. Costin, said that Greeno is a "quaint little nook [that is a] nice change from the DCs."
Much of the laid-back atmosphere comes from the student-run aspect of Greeno's. There are different committees to handle different aspects of the business. These committees range from maintenance and purchasing to hiring and steering, which is the "big picture" committee, according to James Burbidge, another co-manager.
The hiring committee has the task of sorting through the hopefuls to determine who will fit in best with the Greeno community. Kitchen training isn't necessary, because "there are so many niches … we need all sorts of majors and interests to get all the jobs done," said Rasmusen.
A variety of interests comes in handy when it comes time for elections. Each employee must run for and be elected to at least two committees.
"If you're not in a committee, you're not really that involved," said Regina Parkinson, a sophomore who only started working at Greeno this semester. "It's only a little bit intimidating" to campaign in front of the existing committee members, she joked.
Each week, all the committees get together to discuss issues that may have cropped up during the week. They "deal with things as a group, things that affect us all," said Burbidge. This way, each co-manager stays informed about the business.
Greeno does not stand alone, though. There are seven other student-run businesses on campus, and they all work intimately with each other through the Board of Student Business (BOSB). BOSB brings together two representatives from each of the eight student businesses with two undergraduate consultants from the Center for Student Businesses, a consult group that aides Greeno and the rest of the co-ops on campus.
At these meetings, they discuss any problems the businesses might be facing. According to the Board of Student Businesses section on the Web site of another student-run business, the People's Market, "in the past, these issues have been privatization of the University, the student businesses as a recognized learning community on campus, as well as ways we can unify the businesses and reach out to the campus, the local co-ops and the co-operative movement at large."
Greeno Sub Shop and the rest of the student business community is a tight knit group, and that comfort and compatibility can be felt throughout their shop.
"I'm glad I work here, because I met so many people I wouldn't have otherwise [met]," said Parkinson.
Burbidge agreed, saying that the co-managers really become friends rather than co-workers.
"We are … just fantastic people," said Janas.
Greeno Sub Shop is worth a hike up the hill, and with a homey feel, a fun atmosphere, and the official motto of "hot people serving hot food," how could you resist?
Stephanie McPherson can be reached at smcphers@student.umass.edu.
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