As a student at George Mason University, I’ve noticed the quality of food change in as little as one semester, especially at Southside Dining Hall. In the Spring ‘22 semester, there was a protest on behalf of the Dining Hall staff for higher wages, something much deserved from individuals who work long shifts to make sure students like myself, living in a dorm with no kitchen, can have access to food as often as they need it. 
       The Dining Hall staff receive significantly little wages in comparison to other staffing members on the Fairfax campus, despite holding a necessary position that aids students.
      I find myself increasingly left hungry and frustrated as meal quality declines and leaves most students with only options of pizza, salad, scrambled eggs, and cereal on the weekends. How can we be frustrated with our Dining Hall Staff for the quality of our meals, when George Mason University constantly pays for Sodexo—a subpar catering service—to supply them and refuses to pay the staff who serves it, a living wage. 
       With the Fairfax campus opening up to hundreds of more students due to lessening Covid numbers, the Dining Hall Staff have become easily overworked throughout their shifts trying to accommodate this change. There are endless lines at Southside for food during the week and only one or two slow periods for the staff to rest. 
       My interactions with the Dining Hall Staff are always pleasant and there’s truly some of the sweetest people working there. Despite how exhausted they must be, they always smile or offer kind words when spoken to. 
       The refusal of George Mason University to supply Dining Staff with an efficient wage has caused a negative impact on student’s quality of living on campus and needs to be addressed. Please sign my petition to advocate for a living wage for our most overlooked employees on campus, that keep George Mason University running efficiently.