Some customers nowadays are refusing to "Eat Mor Chikin."
Ever since Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy made controversial comments during an interview with the Biblical Reporter on July 16, the company has received extensive criticism and has even been the subject of boycotting across the country.
"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit," Cathy said during the interview. "We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."
The penalties the company is facing due to the president's statement are beginning to form. a list. In addition to loss of support, the rebellion of gay and lesbian Americans will continue to be strong. Groups established an organized National Same-Sex Kiss Day to be held at Chick-Fil-A restaurants on Friday, Aug. 3.
Here, at Penn State, the tension has been rising regarding the anti-gay mentality of Chick-Fil-A, and its business at the HUB-Robenson Center.
Damon Sims, vice president of student affairs, held a meeting on July 31 with student leaders from Penn State's chapter of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally Student Alliance to discuss perspectives on the issue.
"I convened the conversation with leaders from various LGBTA groups and administrators to discuss the recent controversy about Chick-Fil-A." Sims wrote in an email. "It was a good opportunity to share information about the Chick-Fil-A operation in the HUB and hear the various perspectives about the licensing relationship we have with the company."
The meeting's purpose of establishing a mutual opinion with student leaders was successful due to the agreement that action is necessary.
"It was my sense that the group shared deep concerns with the recent comments made by the CEO and President of Chick-fil-A," Sims wrote. "Those concerns, in turn, have led many, if not all, of those participating to worry about the appearance created by the continuing presence of a Chick-Fil-A operation in the heart of University Park."
Alyssia Motah, a former LGBTQA member and co-president of the student alliance, who was also present at this meeting, shared similar opinions with Sims.
"The main topic was whether to continue partnership with them, and to discuss the financial contract," Motah said. "The HUB's Chick-Fil-A has about 800 to 900 customers a day, and accounts for about twelve percent of the HUB's entire profits."
Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the spectrum, there is still plenty of support for the company across the country.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared next Wednesday "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" to demonstrate his support in spite of all the negative feedback regarding Cathy's commentary. Former Pennsylvania Sen. and former Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum has recently joined the cause along with other religious leaders.
As the bickering and religious bias continues to spread throughout the country, the speculation as to if the Chick-Fil-A will remain in the HUB is still up in the air.
"This is a university, we are students, and the values of Chick-Fil-A do not reflect ours," Motah said.
