International Food Day follows fast food marketing techniques

International Food Day, an event recognizing and celebrating the student diversity at AHS, brought foods from many cultures to the AHS courtyard on Friday, March 2, 2007. Students began lining up at the Asian Student Union (ASU) and the South Asian Student Union (SASU) booths before the bell rang excusing them from advisory.

Soon, ASU and SASU had lines that promised a 30-minute wait to those students stuck at the back, while students passed by other clubs such as the Hapa Club and the Mongolian Student Union without a glance. So why wouldn’t the Hapa Club’s ice cream sundaes compete with the big name ASU and SASU fare?

This reporter has a theory.

Why do people go to fast food restaurants? Because they are cheap and simple? Partly. Also, because they market themselves so well (and can afford to be advertised so well), that people just follow the flock. We live in a capitalist society in which large chains dominate and small private concerns often struggle. This is not dissimilar to how ASU and SASU controlled the great flow of hungry consumers ready to buy foreign food on International Food Day. Now, obviously the quality of food ASU and SASU offer is far superior to that of Wendy’s or Taco Bell, but this reporter can’t help but make connections.

A week before International Food Day, ASU and SASU had colorful, eye-catching posters up all over the school. Great advertising – as every successful fast food chain has.

Unlike other clubs, SASU had a special deal this year, and ASU had a similar deal last year, with which you could buy an entire meal of homemade Asian food for just $5.50. It was easy, you could just pay them and they serve the food for you, so that you didn’t have to go through the hassle of picking out every piece of food. You may not have known what they were putting on your plate, but you blindly ate what they give you. It was a Happy Meal with a fortune cookie instead of a toy. The final key to ASU’s and SASU’s success: people tend to follow the flocks. If people see a big line, they will often get in the back instead of looking for a different club with a shorter line to buy food from. It is not entirely logical, but it is human nature.

This reporter conducted an interview with Junior Caroline Iwamoto that supported the above theory.

Reporter: What food did you eat at International Food Day?
Iwamoto: ASU.
R: What did you think about the long lines?
I: By the time everyone was done going through line, there was only like 15 minutes left of lunch.
R: But you realize there were other clubs selling food that had almost no line at all?
I: Dang it!
R: Why did you go for ASU food instead of food from, say, the Hapa Club?
Iwamoto shrugs.
R: Is the food really that good that you would wait half an hour for it when you could get food from other clubs in just a minute or two?
I: I wasn’t paying attention [to where I got in line]. I was talking to my friends the whole time.
R: Do you appreciate how SASU and ASU often fill up a plate of food for you for $5? How you don’t have to pick out each part of your meal individually?
I: Totally!

16 Responses

1. 6:52 AM on March 13th, 2007mryo:

   lmfaooo

2. 7:03 AM on March 13th, 2007Tog:

   Wow…we Happa got owned.

3. 11:13 AM on March 13th, 2007person:

   why would u buy asu and sasu food when u can just go to any other restaurant and get the same thing for cheaper. thats not fair to the other clubs who actually spent their time making the good. while asu and sasu just buy it from somewhere and sell it to us.

4. 12:59 PM on March 13th, 2007Anonymous:

   me have happy ending

5. 6:48 PM on March 13th, 2007sasu:

   makes their curry fresh

6. 10:28 PM on March 13th, 2007Don't want it:

   SASU food is just great, i didn’t see ne advertising. I never eat the ASU food on International Food Day.

7. 8:21 AM on March 14th, 2007Ching Ling Ming:

   YEAH! RIDICURUS DAT AYESYOU CRUB!
   I MAKE BETTAH FOOD A’ HOME

8. 8:36 AM on March 14th, 2007er...:

   actually most of asu’s food was homemade.

9. 7:31 AM on March 16th, 2007Anonymous:

   the food was good but only one piece of chikcen and one piece somosa is not enough for 5 dollars.

10. 10:33 AM on March 19th, 2007SASU:

    All the SASU’s food was homemade excpt the plates and cups.

11. 9:35 AM on March 20th, 2007Friend of a Friend.:

    SASU food isnt good cause Kashnis not here.

12. 9:36 AM on March 20th, 2007Friend of a Friend.:

    Just Playin

13. 7:48 PM on June 9th, 2007vicki:

    really

14. 11:34 AM on June 16th, 2007Anonymous:

    hella good food

15. 11:49 AM on June 17th, 2007Anonymous:

    Orgullo lAtino was also selling food. it would be nice if every club that participated was mentioned equally.

16. 11:06 PM on March 21st, 2008Pin:

    wait whatt??

Leave a Comment

All comments are moderated. If your comment contains profanity or libelous content, please don't waste our time.