Reaction to continued Krishna Lunch suspension from UF after the organization’s vehicle hit a student

Delivery of the electric carts that will replace the box trucks used for Krishna Lunch by Friday at Krishna House.

Krishna House spokesperson Bob Cohen said that it had ordered electric carts from China before February 23, when Krishna’s lunch box truck hit the students.

He said members feel uncomfortable driving a large truck like the campus.

“We expect them [the carts] has come a little bit,” Cohen said. “This event will never happen.”

Cohen welcomed the hope that within a few weeks of the electric cart trial, UF would lift the suspension on Krishna Lunch.

Krishna House continues to sell lunch and is considering expanding its food service despite the March 1 campus suspension.

Krishna’s decision to do this caused mixed reactions among the students.

The University of Florida announced the suspension in response to a Krishna box truck hitting a student on the Buckman Drive crosswalk. This marks Krishna Lunch’s first suspension from campus since it began serving lunch at the Plaza of the Americas in 1971.

UF spokeswoman Cynthia Roldán Hernández confirmed the suspension.

The student was taken to hospital with multiple broken bones. Florida law prevents anyone not involved in the incident from requesting a traffic accident report within 60 days of the accident. No information is available to identify the student.

Cohen said the student is out of the intensive care unit and in a regular room now but he doesn’t know anything else.

Krishna Lunch announced the suspension on Instagram, saying it would provide an update as more information becomes available.

On March 2, one day after the suspension, Krishna Lunch posted on Instagram asking followers to vote on the possibility of introducing a breakfast menu on top of the regular lunch menu. It was also posted asking followers to vote during a potential extension to the regular Krishna Lunch hours, which is from 11 am- 2 pm

Lunch is set at a suggested price of $6, but is on a donation basis, meaning anyone can eat for free. Buy one meal can stretch into several. Among people who buy lunch, going back for more food and carrying tupperware is common.

Cohen said many students rely on Krishna Lunch for several meals a day and the house tries to extend its hours to stick with the Hare Krishna philosophy that no one should go hungry.

Krishna Lunch at the Plaza of the Americas was founded when Srila Prabhupada, the founder of Hare Krishna in the Western world, gave a speech at UF and shared this mission that Krishna House would stand for.

Still, the decision to promote Krishna Lunch’s potential expansion so soon after the incident drew mixed opinions from UF students, most of whom said Krishna Lunch should take it easy for a while instead of trying to grow.

Krishna House has also responded to the suspension by sending members to Plaza America to sing, holding signs that say, “Pray for healing.”

Cohen said Krishna House has received many inquiries from students, alumni and elected officials asking for information about what happened.

Minutes after the incident happened, student-centric social media sites like Yik Yak became flooded with related rumors.

“If it’s a hit-and-run, they are [the police] will be arrested by someone else,” said Cohen. “If it’s a drunk driver, they will be arrested by someone else. It was an unfortunate accident.”

Cohen said the truck driver was in counseling and stayed two hours after the incident to speak with police.

Students have quickly taken sides.

Amanda Messina, 20, who was Krishna’s lunch attendant before the incident, said she and a friend deliberately scheduled their class around Friday to eat together at the Plaza of the Americas.

“After what happened on campus, I heard some interesting things that I hadn’t heard before about the Krishna Lunch, and it definitely made me take a step back.”

He said Krishna Lunch should no longer be allowed on campus to teach Gainesville drivers.

“They are [students] I’m going to cross the street without looking, and I have to be 10 times more aware than I am driving in other locations.

He also said UF should be held accountable for allowing big box trucks to drive on campus. Recently, the truck involved in the incident was parked in front of Krishna House.

“I bike past that truck every day,” Messina said. “There was never a time when I didn’t cycle past that truck, and I didn’t imagine that the woman was hit by the truck.”

While some students strongly support the suspension, others are counting the days until it is lifted.

Anna Poacelli, 20, found herself missing the atmosphere created by Krishna Lunch at the Plaza of the Americas.

“It creates a lively vibe around the area,” Poacelli said. “It creates a community. The Plaza is not the same.”

She said she understands why Krishna Lunch has been postponed but it has been long enough.

“Please bring back Krishna’s Lunch,” said Poacelli. “I was literally begging on my hands and knees.”

Other students, like 22-year-old Jaiden Belmond, were caught between the sides.

“I was surprised but not surprised [by the incident]” Belmond said. “It’s hard to come back from something like that accident. It’s sad because krishna is the most accessible food for many students and faculty on campus.

Messina, Poacelli and Belmond all expressed disapproval of Krishna Lunch’s efforts toward expansion into breakfast and longer hours.

“Re-establishing a good relationship with the university and its students should be a step before extending to breakfast or sitting outside with a folding chair telling people to eat at home,” said Belmond.

Until now, Krishna Lunch has been suspended from the campus indefinitely. Krishna House is yet to hear more information about it.

“We want, when the campus is ready, to meet with them to understand what’s going on,” Cohen said.