Students Upset About Mensa Being Trayless
Simple signs that read "it's an experiment," and "be patient," filled the Mensa last week in support of a new practice Wartburg's Dining Services was trying out.
Trayless dining is what they called it. Students were not allowed to use the standard trays to carry their food to their seats.
This was all part of an effort to reduce the amount of food waste the Mensa sees in the average week.
It may be a good cause; however some students were very upset with the practice.
They shouldn't have done it, Earth Week or not, less food waste...I don't care,” Freshman Zach Hoffman said.
Many found that this practice was just a hassle to deal with.
“It's an inconvenience for students, it's like once a year, I could see it, like as an oh look how much food we saved, but it's an inconvenience, it should never be a permanent thing and hopefully its not," Senior Eric Benson said.
That was another fear, whether this practice would become permanent. Services has no plans for the Mensa to go tray-less, but it is definitely on their minds after the experiment proved to save a lot more than expected in food costs.
Numbers from last Tuesday's lunch read that for 876 customers who ate one meal, the Mensa saved 89 pounds of solids, 20 gallons of liquid, and 289 pounds of product total.
All said and done, some students are happy that they are doing their part to help with food waste, but understand it will take time to implement.
“It is something that takes a little adjusting too you know having to go up multiple times, or else think a little more about what you grab but overall the benefits are definitely worth it," Senior Will Fangman said.
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