In a preliminary Tiger Online student poll, 2 out of 3 votes were cast for keeping trays

Though the Student Senate has already given the go-ahead for a 3-day trial program, many students resist the notion of eliminating trays in Pannill Commons, crying foul at what they believe to be an unjust sacrifice of their own convenience for what may turn out to be paltry savings in money, food, and water. Those who support a trayless policy—a policy spearheaded by the Student Committee on Recycling and Preservation, a new committee of the student government whose duties are to implement “recycling, conservation and preservation of the environment on campus and the greater community” (The Key)—argue, however, that every little bit helps, and that on behalf of the school and the environment students ought to be willing to make small sacrifices of convenience. SCRAP posters can be seen on the walls of most academic buildings, and digital versions and student testimonials have appear in the cycle of announcements on the flatscreens in the Commons, Post Office, Morton Hall and the Library. Student leaders CAC Chairman Spencer Conover ’10 and Jonathan Mudd ’10 recently put a video together demonstrating just how simple going without a tray can be; the video can be found on Youtube. 

Though when the pilot program will begin has yet to be decided—it’s expected sometime in March—proponents of going trayless seem to be taking the initiative. Though technically disconnected from the administration as a student committee of the Student Government, SCRAP’s use of the announcement screens and well-made posters give off an air of something the administration is directly involved in. This is, however, false— SCRAP and the Student Senate have been and continue to be the only organizations related to the administration involved in pursuing the new policy. 

Ultimately, the Student Senate holds the decision to keep or eliminate the trays from the Commons. It passed the pilot program in a 7-5 vote, though it appears that a majority of students oppose going fully trayless in the future. The pilot program is, however, just that: a trial run, a practice session, and above all, a useful tool that will allow the Senate and SCRAP to collect valuable, actual data, which will be used to inform the Student Government’s final decision. Whatever controversy or divisiveness this debate is causing now, when the pilot program comes in to play, students will be able to learn first hand whether going trayless is a huge hassle—or whether going trayless isn’t so bad after all.

Related posts:

1. Three Days Without Trays
2. Senate Rejects Going Trayless
3. Clearing Up the Trayless Issue
4. Trayless Option Considered for Commons
5. Students Must Mobilize for Trays