Texas A&M University's head of Dining Services is leaving his post, campus officials announced Thursday.
Executive Director Nadeem Siddiqui submitted his resignation, effective Sunday, Associate Vice President for Business Services Lallah Howard said in a statement released through a university listserv.
It was not immediately clear why Siddiqui resigned or who would replace him, though a search is under way. Howard said she would serve as executive director in the interim.
"Since joining Texas A&M in March 2006, Mr. Siddiqui has brought many new ideas and menu items to better serve our students, faculty and staff," Howard said in the statement. "We appreciate his service to Texas A&M, and wish him well in the future."
Siddiqui was hired to oversee Dining Services a little more than two years ago, as the department was being restructured in the wake of an internal audit that revealed widespread mismanagement and a $3 million loss over the previous four years.
When he started, Siddiqui said his goal was to reconnect students with on-campus dining. He has since revamped Dining Services, hired a new executive chef and expanded the types of food available to students.
Siddiqui did not respond Thursday or Friday to requests for an interview made by The Eagle through Dining Services officials. An automatic e-mail response sent Thursday by his computer indicated that the dining chief was out of the office and referred questions to Director of Operations and Senior Executive Chef Gary Arthur.
Arthur on Thursday pointed to department restructuring as the reason for the changes and said officials had been working with a consultant to help the department operate more efficiently. Arthur said he didn't think any of the problems revealed in the audit that prompted the original restructuring two years ago were recurring.
The chef, who was hired by Siddiqui and worked with him at Stanford University, said he expected the department to launch new initiatives and to follow through with many of Siddiqui's ideas.
He declined to comment further about the changes, saying he wasn't at liberty to discuss personnel changes.
"We're really in the process of having Dining Services restructured in a tone that would be much more positive and progressive going forward," he said.
• Holly Huffman's e-mail address is holly.huffman@theeagle.com.
66 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
Dining staff On:
Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:39 PM
Comment Title: God speed
May he live a fulfill life; he has done so much for (Aggies); he was truly an inspiration to all of us. God bless
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Posted by:
SH On:
Monday, June 30, 2008 2:02 PM
Comment Title: God Bless him
God bless him for his work ethics and tremendous changes he made to improve quality of the dining program for everyone. I am looking forward to seeing him at Camp "Siddiqui"
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Posted by:
Long Term Dining staff On:
Monday, June 30, 2008 2:00 PM
Comment Title: Best wishes
He did everything in his power to change a bad culture and was succeful in putting the studnets first. I am not sure what will happen after his departure, I already miss him.
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Posted by:
Student leader On:
Monday, June 30, 2008 1:58 PM
Comment Title: Amazing person
TAMU was fortunate to have Mr. Siddiqui leading its Dining program; we are apprecative of his hard work and commitment to students and TAMU. He WILL be missed trmendously.
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Posted by:
Aggies for life On:
Thursday, June 26, 2008 4:38 PM
Comment Title: Best wishes
Best wishes to a man who did everything he could to make students life better; how many administrators do you know who have won administrator of the year and namesake in two short years. It is huge loss for TAMU and students. We do wish him the best and hope to see him at camp "Siddiqui"
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Posted by:
DS On:
Thursday, June 26, 2008 12:33 PM
Comment Title:
You will be missed
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Posted by:
CJ On:
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 3:45 PM
Comment Title: Love what you did for us!
Thanks from the bottom of our heart.
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Posted by:
Aggie On:
Monday, June 23, 2008 7:11 PM
Comment Title: Thank you
Thank you for taking care of us! You are one of my favorite administrator's on campus; you will be missed.
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Posted by:
Aggie for life On:
Sunday, June 22, 2008 7:43 PM
Comment Title: Man of honor
TAMU produces men and women of honor; he has done so much in helping us succeed in our professional life after TAMU; very few administrators take that type of initiative to help students. No WONDER HE WON THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR AND A "NAMESAKE" in just two short years. He will be missed
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Posted by:
GS On:
Sunday, June 22, 2008 4:39 PM
Comment Title: People
Aggies do not accept hateful people; as my mama told me if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything. May God bless Mr. Siddiqui for his dedication to students/Tamu and we will miss him. Hope to see him at camp "Siddiqui"
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Posted by:
Staff On:
Sunday, June 22, 2008 4:35 PM
Comment Title: God bless
God Bless him for treating the hourly staff with respect and dignity and making them feel equal. I miss that culture after his departure.
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Posted by:
Dining team member On:
Sunday, June 22, 2008 4:32 PM
Comment Title: Enjoyed working for him
As, a staff member who has been here for a long time; I enjoyed his work ethics and commitment to excellence. Sure, he made some people unhappy because he was changing things to improve services/quality for our students (the main reason we come to work for). May God bless him and help him live a happy life.
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Posted by:
Dining staff On:
Sunday, June 22, 2008 4:28 PM
Comment Title: To former employee
I guess you did not understand the earlier messages; you and people like you are dishonest and disloyal to TAMU/AGGIES and we are glad that you ARE no longer here. I think anyone who is smart (not you) would see that Mr. Siddiqui has done a terrific job wherever he has been check with the Ivy league schools he has worked for. I think you seem to be upset with him and Mr. Arthur where you should be upset with TAMU if what you has any truth to it, sine TAMU is ultimately responsible what happens at the work place.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 22, 2008 3:42 PM
Comment Title: Former Employee
WOW - a lot of heat for someone who runs from every job he's had for more than 2 years! I do know his health is bad, and for that I'm sure he's making his decision to leave. BUT, that doesn't change who he is. He's a salesman, and good at that part of his job. BUT, he knows of Gary Arthur's behavior, he knows of crap that's gone on throughtout Dining Services, but he did nothing to change it! I'm a former employee because I have integrity and refuse to work for someone (or even an organization) that speaks it but doesn't walk it!
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Posted by:
SE On:
Sunday, June 22, 2008 12:18 AM
Comment Title: Loss
What a huge loss for students and TAMU; he did so much in two years for us; we will miss his bright smiling face/energy.
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Posted by:
Kyle On:
Sunday, June 22, 2008 12:12 AM
Comment Title: Tell us
I sure hope someday soon he speaks up/out to tell the real reason he is leaving. No one does all this heavy lifting/work to develop a program and just leaves.....I have a hunch that there is more to this story then we know. We do wish him the best
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Posted by:
CJ On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 9:35 PM
Comment Title: Catering Team
As, a catering student worker I always appreciated his respectful demeanor towards us; he was professional and committed to good service; he was one of my mentors. I will miss him deeply.
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Posted by:
DS On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 8:35 PM
Comment Title: dining staff
We will miss his bright and energetic face; he did more for us (hourly staff) then anyone else have done in ages. He treated us with respect and dignity and made sure that the management staff (who felt they were better then all of us) were held accountable; we HOURLY staff will miss him tremendously. God Bless him.
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Posted by:
MSC worker On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 7:58 PM
Comment Title: Great Professional
He will be missed; God bless
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Posted by:
Worker On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 6:57 PM
Comment Title: I loved working for him
I know that after he has left it is not the same level of professionalism at work and he will be missed by all sincere and honest Aggies/workers. God Bless
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Posted by:
True AGGIE On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 6:55 PM
Comment Title: To the former employee and sorts
You must not understand our culture of respect and Integrity; if you did you will still be employed. Mr. Siddiqui and Mr. Arthur had brought freshness and professionalism to TAMU and probably you and people like you hated that. But, Kudos to both of them in doing a best job who inherited management team which is one of the worst in the business; you can continue to blame them/others for your short comings. It is NOT the truth and you know it. Sometime it is hard to look at the mirror.
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Posted by:
Aggie Parent On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 6:48 PM
Comment Title: Thanks from the bottom of our hearts
May God keep you safe and healthy; thank you for everything you have done for our kids; God Bless
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Posted by:
SG On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 6:47 PM
Comment Title: Good-Bye my friend
I/WE will miss you; may God help you achieve Peace and comfort.
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Posted by:
BG On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 5:53 PM
Comment Title: Love the Hay
I have seen a picture of Mr. Siddiqui making his first bale of hay in Texas and he passed it on to everyone he knew with such a pride and sincerity. I had to look at the picture twice to make sure it was real as a city man doing farm work. He told me once that his mind was most peaceful when he is close to farm/ground. May God give him peace and reward him with comfort with his family and friends. I WILL MISS HIS POSITIVE ENERGY.
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Posted by:
Aggie Junior On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 5:48 PM
Comment Title: May God bless him
May God bless Mr. Siddiqui for his commitment and work that he did for TAMU and students. May his future path be positive and rewarding; we will miss him VERY MUCH.
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Posted by:
Aggie parent On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 5:45 PM
Comment Title: To former Employee
There is a reason why you are a former employee; our culture is NOT about throwing stones or putting hate messages. You did not belong here with that mentality anyway. These are two finest professionals I have known on campus; if your claim of mis-treatment is true then do you think TAMU/HR was sleeping and did not do there jobs??? I am glad you are former employee, we need to keep it that way.
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 3:04 PM
Comment Title: Former Employee
Most all these comments are about what kind of wonderful person Mr. Siddiqui was. But, let me tell you a little about what you don't know. Mr. Siddiqui is a sales man. He could sell an icebox to an Eskimo. And with that in mind know that he did NOTHING for his employees. Yes, the students are what make up TAMU, but without employees you'll do nothing! There has to be a happy medium. Many employees left work crying because of the treatment, hateful remarks, and thought that their job was always in jeopardy. His right-hand man, Mr. Gary Arthur is a mean, womanizing, hateful man who needs to leave A&M now! He's went so far as to tell people not to call him SIR because that's derogatory in HIS country. Well guess what...YOU'RE NOT IN YOUR COUNTRY!!! These two parasites need to leave and the sooner the better!
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Posted by:
MS On:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 12:26 PM
Comment Title: Aggie parent
He was one of the Good Fellows on this campus; we respectfully acknowledge his contribution to our students and TAMU. May God take care of him and give him Peace. God Bless
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Posted by:
TC On:
Friday, June 20, 2008 5:47 PM
Comment Title: God Bless
May God bless him in his future endeavors, he will be missed.
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Posted by:
Aggie for life On:
Friday, June 20, 2008 4:47 PM
Comment Title: Good-Bye
Good Bye to one of the finest/nicest administrators we have had in TAMU; he will be MISSED.
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Posted by:
CD On:
Friday, June 20, 2008 2:03 PM
Comment Title: PROFESSIONAL
He was a true professional; loved our students and Tamu; we will miss him.
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Posted by:
Aggie for life On:
Friday, June 20, 2008 11:57 AM
Comment Title: TAMU
We all know that TAMU has been better by him being here; I do wish that he would have stayed; but no one knows the real reason (and he is not telling) I am sure there has to be compelling reasons for him to leave. We can say good bye to someone who stood for students and did everything in his power to energize the dining program. We all have to appear in front of God one day...so we have to be honest in this world if we believe in JESUS and follow his message. May God give him peace and happiness.
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Posted by:
Aggie Senior On:
Friday, June 20, 2008 10:46 AM
Comment Title: May God bless him
I have seen remarkable improvements/changes in Dining since his arrival on campus; the chef he brought is one of the finest in the country. As, a student living on this campus for 4 years I can speak of the positive changes and good things that were implement during his time here. He will be missed by many.
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Posted by:
Relieved! On:
Friday, June 20, 2008 2:38 AM
Comment Title: I cannot believe it.
I cannot believe the comments that I have been reading. As one of the responders stated "Mr. Siddiqui resigned", no one fired him, or threatened his job, or forced him to leave. He did so on his own. Maybe he had a better job offer! Most of you make it sound like he was ran out of town on a rail. A&M is an "Agent of Change" and things change every day whether we like it or not, and maybe it is time for a change. Personally I think dining needs to consider a woman for the position. Don't blame A&M for doing something wrong, when nobody really knows Why Mr. Siddiqui left in the first place. I'm sure he will do well wherever he goes. His track record speaks for him. Two years there, two years here, two years anywhere! I know I can sleep peaceful tonight.
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Posted by:
Aggie cowboy On:
Thursday, June 19, 2008 11:29 PM
Comment Title: Miss Him
My mama always told me to tell the truth and stand up for good/right and that is what Mr. Siddiqui did on this campus. Of course he is human just like everyone and not perfect...do you know a perfect person beside JESUS?? We will miss him in "Aggieland". He will be in my prayers.
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Posted by:
CC On:
Thursday, June 19, 2008 11:22 PM
Comment Title: Duncan food
While he was here he even made Duncan food taste good/better. He ALSO introduced Kosher food on campus, we are very few schools/campuses in Texas who have Kosher food offered. We will miss him, be God with him.
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Posted by:
M8JAA On:
Thursday, June 19, 2008 7:17 PM
Comment Title: Honest talk
Maybe someday we will REALLY find out why he left this place that he loved so much; maybe we will find the REAL truth/story about his journey to this place we all call very lovingly "Aggieland", I am quiet sure that we will find the absolute truth one-day and I cannot wait. I/we will miss him. As, far as his two years staying here he did more good in two years for us/students then dining did in 20. I will truly MISS him.
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, June 19, 2008 4:02 PM
Comment Title:
to all you sympathizers.....1st off he RESIGNED....for whatever reasons....if he was so honest and good and giving etc...why would he quit without a fight or even announcing it himself? Also, all the awards & acknowledgements you all have referred to proves his public savy personality but says nothing of his management or administrative abilities. I have worked harder & been so stressed and threatened in the last 2 years I have been physically and mentally beaten down. Check his work record....2 years at the last few jobs???? There is a reason for this that only he knows and he is not telling.
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Posted by:
Aggie for generations On:
Thursday, June 19, 2008 1:58 PM
Comment Title: Good person
He will be missed tremendously, it makes my soul unhappy to see him go.
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Posted by:
EM On:
Thursday, June 19, 2008 1:55 PM
Comment Title: Aggie community loss
He will be tremendously missed! As, a muslim Faculty on campus I am proud that this campus offered Halal food (only one in Texas). After all we have an A&M branch in Qatar a muslim country; we do not have any problem taking Millions of dollars from the Muslim country but for some reason few people have difficulty providing Halal food for the community; they are not part of Aggie culture.. we teach honesty, Integrity, fairness and commitment for all not just for certain race. He will be missed tremendously, may God be with him.
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Posted by:
ML On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:58 PM
Comment Title: Great person
We will miss someone who truly cared for students and TAMU; he made a huge positive difference in our daily life's. May God bless him
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Posted by:
Student On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 9:19 PM
Comment Title: Our loss
It sure is our loss to see another brilliant person leave this place; he will be missed. Students and many people on this campus loved him and respected him. He will be in my prayers, may the wind take him to a good place.
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Posted by:
Aggie for Life On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 7:37 PM
Comment Title: Aggie community loss
This is a loss for Aggie community; do you know of anyone on the campus who has won the Administrator of the year the first year and Name sake the second year of their work.....it sure makes many people jealous and upset. Someone said that he sighted with students...what is wrong with that!!! Is that not a reason we ALL come to work for to give our students the BEST programs and experiences so they can be successful in life and donate back to TAMU. Without any students their will be many people leaving this town.,,,don't get confused.
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Posted by:
TEXAN On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 7:17 PM
Comment Title: Best of luck
Best of luck to a well deserving man who changed and implemented many things to improve the Aggie experience.
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Posted by:
Texan On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 2:35 PM
Comment Title: Glass house
One thing I would say that we should not throw stones when we live in the glass houses; we did not give him peace/support when he was here let us leave him in peace. I am a proud TEXAN and our way is to honor justice and honesty and not to abuse it.
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Posted by:
Aggie On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 1:12 PM
Comment Title:
As, a minority living and working at TAMU is quiet difficult if you want to be treated equally/fairly. As, someone told me that there are three things against me; I am not white, I am not christian and I don't have the ring so I would never succeed here. I keep my mouth shut and continue to work...I need the job. That is the reality of this place. He was nice and did a lot but I guess in the end he did not follow the culture set here. May God bless him and help him to move forward.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 12:36 PM
Comment Title: Good Bye!!
To the best politician this campus has had in many years. Yes politician, not business man. Dining services has lost more money in the 2 years he has "run us down" Employees pay has been cut, & new employees have been hired into positions he created for them. His dedication to the STUDENTS and not the employees are the reason for his demise. Oh yeah, he also made 6 figure income and he & the chef were friends long before they surfaced here, so he should not have a problem hiring best friends.Employees were threatened regularly with job cuts. He also hired a consult at the Private schools he worked for in the past, and many of the ideas he put in place here were done at those places. The farmer's market, Halal, baker's night produce ZERO income for Dining service, which by the way, receives ZERO funding from the University.Please research the facts before you start blaming everyone else for his mistakes. yes, he was a nice guy, but in the industry that is not enough......loyalty, honesty, and integrity to to be lived not just spoken.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 11:55 AM
Comment Title: one side
consider this... you only know one side of the story and very little of that too. it's not a loss at all.
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Posted by:
Aggie On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:54 AM
Comment Title: Dining
I think MR. Siddiqui would have stayed if the administration treated him right; I always believe that the truth will come out one day and all this fog will be lifted surrounding this issue, May God bless Mr. Siddiqui and we wish him all the best, he will be missed.
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Posted by:
Aggie On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:51 AM
Comment Title: Loss for the community
Mr. Siddiqui did a fabulous job in helping regain dining's stature as a professional organization; he took over a program that was broken and mis-managed by many people and tried his best to make it successful. It is a shame that someone would not see that. I think some people were just prejudice against him since he was not from here. They did not see all the positive things he did. We will miss him tremondously
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 8:30 AM
Comment Title: YOU did not work for him!
There is no great loss. Mr Siddiqui made promised he did not keep. Mr Siddiqui was a great sales man as he sold dinning services down the drain. Life did not get better with him here.Every day coming to work wondering if today is your last day.It has been a rough two years.
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Posted by:
DS On:
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 7:37 PM
Comment Title: He will be missed
We will miss his smiling face and helpful energy; he has done so much in the short time at TAMU to improve the Aggie expiereince. I sure wish him the best and happy future.
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Posted by:
TC On:
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 4:52 PM
Comment Title: What a loss!
It is a great loss for TAMU! We wish University could have done something to keep him here......we have seen major improvements in the two short years he has been on campus. We will miss him.
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Posted by:
advocate for justice and equity On:
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 10:24 AM
Comment Title: Tremendous Loss for an Academic Institution
It is unbelievable how Mr. Siddiqui is treated by TAMU in this day and age, in AMERICA......a country which promises justice and equity for ALL. Mr. Siddiqui is a visionary. He introduced several innovative ideas to the students and staff to perceive food and its impact on life in a whole new dimension. He made a success of the losing dining services program at TAMU. I truly believe that the top management at TAMU wanted him out to protect their own selfish interests. he always stands up for justice and equity and will continue to do so. He will be successful wherever he goes, he has a solid track record, it is their loss.
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Posted by:
AG On:
Monday, June 16, 2008 9:15 PM
Comment Title: Miss him
We will MISS him; dining will never be great without him (Mr. Siddiqui). He will be in our prayers.
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Posted by:
AM On:
Monday, June 16, 2008 7:42 PM
Comment Title: Big loss
Big Loss to the Aggie community.
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Posted by:
Fighting AGGIES of TEXAS On:
Monday, June 16, 2008 12:27 PM
Comment Title: Fight for right
I wonder why University did not fight/desired to keep Mr. Siddiqui here; if we teach honesty, Integrity, loyalty and truthfullness to us/our young people then University needs to explain what they did to keep Mr. Siddiqui here!!!!!
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Posted by:
Staff On:
Monday, June 16, 2008 11:03 AM
Comment Title: Texas Loss
Mr. Siddiqui loved Texas and people/students of this state. I am just so disappointed that University would not fight to keep him. His results are any measure of his success then we are loosing a real successful person. Sad day to loose a real positive and honest guy.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:58 AM
Comment Title: Love Mr. Siddiqui
We love Mr. Siddiqui for what he has done for us (Aggies); he is one of the most progressive and kindest administrators we have had on this campus for ages. He will be sourly missed.
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Posted by:
GM On:
Sunday, June 15, 2008 10:34 PM
Comment Title: Our loss
We have lost a good PERSON, may God protect him and give him more success.
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Posted by:
Loving students/Aggies On:
Sunday, June 15, 2008 8:10 PM
Comment Title: LOSS FOR TAMU
It sure is a huge loss for Aggie community to see Mr. Siddiqui leave; he has brought farmers market, local and organic foods, Tomato Bar, Halal and Kosher foods to the campus. He held the first Sedar/Passover on campus. He is started the Bio-Diesel program, he introduced new traditions like Baker's night (very popular) and Thanksgiving lunch. We are saddend to see him leave Aggieland. Hope he would come back one day and continue to improve the Aggie expierence.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 15, 2008 7:07 PM
Comment Title: DISCLOSE
Maybe TAMU can disclose (open record) how much it is paying to the consultant they have hired to figure out dining issues, while they close facilities and hourly/poor staff are given less hours to work. The word is out on the street that the consultant is a close friend of one of the top administrator and was hired without the bid process. This place is all about integrity, honesty and truthfulness...well then why is that the top administrators don't follow the core values of this amazing place and WHO holds them accountable. It is a loss to see a good person (Mr. Siddiqui) leave this place who has improved lives of many Aggies.
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Posted by:
MP On:
Sunday, June 15, 2008 5:21 PM
Comment Title: Sad to see him go
I am disappointed and sad to see Mr. Siddiqui leave TAMU; we have benefited tremendously by his hard work and dedication. In two years he has won Administrator of the year and a "Namesake" a remarkable achievement. It is a sad day for TAMU community to see him go.
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Posted by:
Sam Strong On:
Sunday, June 15, 2008 5:16 PM
Comment Title: it is a shame
It is a shame to see a true professional leave TAMU, he has done SO much in last two years for the TAMU community! I just hope it was not because of ILL TREATMENT/DISCRIMINATION by the top administrators who are making six figure salaries. Maybe the Vice Presidents can reduce their salaries so the moines could be invested in the facilities and the programs to serve the students and TAMU community better.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 15, 2008 12:23 PM
Comment Title:
what has ever happened to the good ole days of employees "sticking it out" despite internal turmoils. Oh well! welcome to the new age of doing things!!
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, June 14, 2008 5:03 PM
Comment Title: Food Disservices?
Dining services barely does anything anymore. Most of the dining facilities are just leased out to fastgood chains. Half the facilities are closed most of the time. Try eating in the MSC during the weekend. And during the summer, a large number of facilities are closed. I've eaten on campus for 30 years, so I've seen the constant downward spiral of food services.
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