CUC students frequently get their coffee from the Starbucks in the Cougar Den. But the major coffee brand has been under criticism over the past year for their stance on the Israel-Hamas War. 

Activists have called for a boycott of Starbucks for calling out Hamas for its attack on Oct. 7, 2023, but failing to speak about Israel targeting civilians in Palestine in the ensuing months.  

Frank Budig, general manager for Sodexo, said that CUC only purchases their ingredients through Starbucks. The corporation usually takes a 7% rebate from fully licensed Starbucks stores. 

There were no changes in sales throughout this year and last year, Budig said.

The Starbucks Workers United account on the social media platform X posted in solidarity for Palestine on Oct. 10, 2023, shortly after the Hamas attacks on Israel a few days earlier.

Within an hour, the post was deleted. A Starbucks executive told USA Today that the union showed “support for violence perpetrated by Hamas and Starbucks unequivocally condemns acts of terrorism, hate and violence.”

Starbucks then sued the union for using the company name to post the pro-Palesinian image. The union filed their own suit saying that they should be able to use the Starbucks logo on social media and that the brand defamed the union for implying they support terrorism and violence. 

“I’m not expecting as much students to follow the boycott for Starbucks, because some students use the money they gave to the school already with their Cougar Cash,” said Abby Boyer, a student worker at the campus Starbucks who said she supports Palestine. 

Boyer said that she didn’t really see a difference in how many students come to the Den to buy Starbucks, and students views on the war haven’t seemed to make much of an impact on campus.

“When you’re paying with your Cougar Cash or meal swipes, it’s not going to Starbucks because it already went to the school,” said Boyer. “So you’re just giving back the money.”

Summer Barakat, a junior, went to the vigil for peace that was hosted by campus engagement in the chapel for those who were suffering because of the war.

Barakat, who is Palestinian, went to the administration to see if they could offer resources to help those in Gaza, but she was turned down. 

“I understand that this is a private university, but other public universities, even some private, can probably take a stronger stance on the situation,” said Barakat. “As much as I would love a stronger stance, Palestinians are very much a minority population at CUC. But I would like to know that the administration supports me as a student.”