Discontent on Campus: Why an almost €10 canteen meal is driving UIB students onto the streets

Discontent on Campus: Why an almost €10 canteen meal is driving UIB students onto the streets

On Monday midday, shortly after 12:30 p.m., the square in front of the cafeteria of the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) was not a quiet place. Between olive-green trees and the bike racks stood remnants of banners, thermoses and those students who usually remain quieter. Not a staged appearance with a lectern, rather improvised chants and conversations that show: it has long been about more than just a dish. The demonstration is covered in Estudiantes de la UIB protestan contra la mensa de casi 10 euros: 'Demasiado para un simple menú'.

What exactly is this about?

The sticking point is simple and prosaic: a lunch menu at the canteen costs just under €10, a situation discussed in Por qué el menú del día en las Baleares sigue siendo tan caro — ¿qué falta en el debate?. For many young people on the island that is not a few euros to spend occasionally — it is part of the monthly budget. One student did the math: "If you use the canteen five days a week, that's almost €200 a month." Others pack sandwiches or leftovers into Tupperware, not out of principle but because it is necessary. The university's official justification: increased costs for energy, staff and supply chains. But that does not answer whether this burden may be shifted solely onto students.

What's missing so far in the debate

Often only the price is discussed. Less visible are the structural causes: those who increase the canteen price respond to rising operating costs — but who reviews the caterers' contracts? How do seasonal fluctuations from tourism affect supply prices, as explored in Por qué los alimentos en las Baleares son mucho más caros — una comprobación de la realidad? And: what role do administrative budgets and the university's prioritisation play? On campus people talk not only about curricula, but also about unpaid internships, high rents in Palma and the costs of commuting. These factors multiply.

Another often overlooked point: social mixing. Students who work part-time in cafés or in tourism face different burdens than those with family support. A uniform canteen price affects everyone equally — and that is unfair.

Comparisons and demands: What could be possible

The student union points to models that handle it differently: state-subsidised meals, tiered prices or discounted canteen cards for groups in need. Locally an online petition with several hundred signatures is circulating, and suggestions hang on the canteen: days with cheaper menus, an income test for discount cards, or partnerships with local producers who could supply seasonally and affordably.

Concrete steps that could help immediately would be: a temporary price freeze for three months, emergency vouchers for the most needy, and a transparent cost breakdown of canteen operations. In the medium term there should be talks about municipal or regional subsidies, a model for subsidised places, and an examination of whether a partial return of catering management to public hands is possible.

How those affected respond and what remains to be done?

The protest was determined, not hysterical. Between the cacophony of the canteen cashbox and the occasional rumble of mopeds in the street, students collected signatures and planned regular meetings. "It's not just about food," says a representative, "but about the everyday life we want to build here." Some teaching staff show understanding; others warn against unrealistic demands. In any case, it is clear: those who want to study should not constantly have to think about how to pay for lunch.

The university administration acknowledges cost increases, but concrete measures are still open. This is an opportunity for more transparency and a public dialogue. The canteen could become a testing ground: a pilot project with subsidised menus, accompanied by a cost audit and clear targets.

Until a solution becomes tangible, many students will keep a thermos as a small status symbol — and an increasing sense that education also has a social component that should not be left solely to the market. The next weeks will show whether the UIB uses the pressure to change structures, or whether the discussion dissipates in campus life. For the protesters this is not just a hunger protest against prices, but an impetus to perceive the university as part of the social infrastructure and to act accordingly.