Some students were sizzling mad over french fries Wednesday after a Shaw Hall cafeteria worker gave them a new name - "freedom fries."
The name mimics a move by cafeteria workers at the U.S. Capitol, who renamed all foods with French references in response to France's refusal to support a U.S.-led war with Iraq.
The label placed by the french fries sparked some students to make fliers mocking what some see as a pro-war demonstration.
The flyers expressed the students' dislike for President Bush and suggested other meal options for the cafeteria to support him such as "Bush Burgers," "Hateful Hummus," and "Bomb Bulgogi."
Shaw Hall manager Carol Noud said officials never put "freedom fries" on the menu, but a staff member did write it on the serving cart.
"The person didn't mean anything political by it," Noud said. "She just thought it was clever."
Noud said she wasn't sure if the fliers were an additional spoof or the result of someone taking offense to the freedom fries.
"I'm not sure if it was tongue-in-cheek, or if someone really meant something by it," Noud said, adding she welcomes student comments on the matter.
But Bruce Haskell, food service coordinator for MSU, said the renaming of the french fries was not condoned by the university.
"It's not our position to make political statements," Haskell said.
The cafeterias on campus do change the names of items, but this was a simple mistake, he said. The responding fliers were taken down immediately after they were spotted.
"I think these fliers were just someone's attempts to be humorous," he said.
Students have differing opinions about the liberated potatoes.
"I think it's a good thing," mathematics sophomore Staci Baakko said. "I think it shows that they support that our country is about freedom."
But others said the label change is just another opinion that will accomplish nothing.
"I don't really think it is going to influence anyone to think about the war too much," pre-law freshman Taylor Krakowski said.
Staff writer Kelli Cynecki contributed to this report.
