Students entering the Tully Dining Commons this week noticed that the usual red plates and silverware were missing. In its place, paper plates with plastic utensils have become the temporary standard.
The shift has drawn mixed reactions from students. Many expressed concern about sustainability and waste.
“It feels wasteful,” says sophomore Alexa Chimes. “We were wondering what happened to the normal plates and why they’re paper all of a sudden.
Chimes continues, “Definitely not the biggest fan. I feel like it’s a lot more garbage. The utensils are plastic, which is harder to dispose of.”
Others echoed similar worries. “I think it’s super wasteful. They can make a bigger effort of using reusable plates, forks and knives and whatnot,” says sophomore Kelly Hyland.
Some students reacted that this was not their first time disposable plates had been used in the Tully. Sophomore Ava Bistoff says, “I remember my freshman year, there were weeks where we had just paper and plastic.”
Bistoff also recalls using paper plates and plastic utensils for the first week of school before the dining hall was officially open.
Bistoff states, “I understand there may be supply issues or [the Tully is] understaffed, but I feel like, in a dining hall, we should have [reusable plates]. I was wondering how many plates they were going through a day and how much waste that was creating.”
Not all students saw the change negatively. Sophomore Sophia Farmer states, “I kind of like it because if I ever want to take a little something back to my dorm, it’s our to-go option. I don’t really do that too much here, so I’d rather just have the reusable [option].”
Stags Hospitality did not issue a statement in time for print,, though students report the change began over the weekend. For now, the campus community continues to adjust, with some supporting the shift and others questioning its sustainability.
