STORRS, Conn. — Members of the UConn community have begun a couple of fundraisers hoping to offset the negative image generated by a video of a student berating food service workers who refused to sell him jalapeno-bacon macaroni and cheese.
The 9-minute, obscenity-laced video clip posted online shows freshman Luke Gatti arguing with and eventually shoving Dave Robinson, a food service supervisor. Police and the manager said Gatti was refused service on Oct. 4 for carrying an open alcohol container.
The video, which became fodder for late-night talk show hosts, shows the 19-year-old questioning why in America he can’t have beer in the building. He uses a gay slur against Robinson and repeatedly demands, “Just give me some (expletive) bacon-jalapeno mac and cheese.”
After shoving Robinson, Gatti is tackled by another employee, is arrested by a police officer and spits at the manager before being led out of the building.
Freshman Sadie Rumsey set up a page on GoFundme.com to give the workers involved a night out. As of Sunday, her page had collected more than $1,300.
A local restaurant, D.P. Dough, began adding jalapeno to its bacon mac and cheese calzones after last Sunday’s incident. It has donated $600 to a children’s cancer charity from the profits.
Franchise owner Cory Hill said he’s gone through 125 pounds of macaroni and cheese this week, up from the usual 20.
Freshman Luke Gatti is due in court Tuesday on charges of breach of peace and criminal trespass.