There has been much commotion over the last several weeks about the possibility of going trayless in Pannill Commons. This issue, which has sparked numerous student debates, letters to the editor, and has been the main topic of discussion at many Student Senate meetings, is definitely a controversial one. The whole community, faculty included, seems to be divided into two camps, those for trays, and those against them. It doesn’t take much time in the Commons to hear two students discussing the merits of going trayless. It seems that those who advocate a new policy support it for financial reasons, while those who are in favor of keeping trays prefer the convenience offered by them. Most importantly, many who are in favor of keeping trays believe that Hampden-Sydney has no right to force this sort of thing on the student body. There have even been those who say that going trayless is tantamount to going co-ed.

This issue is not only one that has the students concerned, but it is also one that the administration is paying close attention to as well. Throughout all of the debate, President Howard has claimed that his “opinion is less important than the process.” By this he means, he is here not to serve his own interests, but the institution’s. The President has ordered an objective approach to be taken when making a decision. While Dr. Howard has said that he is still analyzing the costs and the benefits of going trayless, he stresses that he has yet to make a decision. Despite his willingness to entertain all arguments on the issue, he refuses to “engage in conversation that is centered on innuendo or accusations.” In these tough economic times, Hampden-Sydney’s twenty-fourth president is willing to consider all options to make the College “more efficient and more effective.” He also emphasizes that the H-SC needs to remain a good steward of the environment, saying that he does not use a tray, and that “it is no big deal once you grow accostomed to it.”

While President Howard has yet to make a decision, Hampden-Sydney’s Food Committee feels that going trayless is an eventuality. This committee, which is made up of three students along with several Aramark employees, has been tasked with reporting back to the President on the economic and environmental implications of not using trays. Adam O’Donnell, a sophomore representative on the Food Committee, says that the students on the committee feel that they are there to represent the student body. He says that going trayless is not something that the students want. Despite this, O’Donnell claims that most on the committee feel that “this will happen” and that it is the job of the Food Committee to figure out how to “ease the transition.” O’Donnell, also a Student Senator, mentioned that last semester, the Student Senate voted unanimously to keep trays in Pannill Commons. “Sure,” he says, “we’re going to save money, and we’re going to save the environment, but is this something that the students want?”

Although it may not be something that a majority of the student body favors, the economic and environmental evidence seems to be stacked against those who want to keep trays. Although Joy Donaldson, the catering director and member of the food committee, refused to comment, Aramark has released an official study on the benefits of going trayless. This study reports that the average higher learning institution sees a drop in per-person waste of between 25 and 30 percent. On average, this transfers into about $57,000 per year. It also reduces the amount of water used by one third to one half of a gallon.

Getting rid of trays will not be an easy process for Hampden-Sydney’s administration. With threats to protest already published, many of the students seem prepared to hold their ground. There are many benefits to going trayless, both economic and environmental, but perhaps also there is some validity in the claims of some that such a decision needs to be met with widespread student support. Regardless, President Howard seems hopeful for mature discourse. “Excellent institutions,” he says, “are managed through fact-based conversations.”

Related posts:

1. Three Days Without Trays
2. Senate Rejects Going Trayless
3. Clearing Up the Trayless Issue