Dear New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and Gourmet Dining Services (GDS),

So far, the impact of allowing dining guests to choose the songs playing overhead in Highlander Commons, the one major dining hall at NJIT, is positive overall. However, there have been many instances where people who connect to the Rockbot Request service for Highlander Commons overplay two specific songs: "Rattlesnake" by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and "Bugs" by Pearl Jam. Dining hall regulars, including undergraduate and graduate students alike, often depend on being physically present at Highlander Commons to receive low-cost, convenient food, so they have no choice but to listen to these two songs played multiple times per day, each. Many students cannot afford technology to cancel out the sound of the songs, especially since noise-cancelling headphones remain pricy.

To greater describe the impacts of "Rattlesnake" and "Bugs" on the dining hall frequenter population, many of us (these regulars) are psychologically affected by overexposure to these two songs. Several diners have expressed discomfort eating at Highlander Commons due to the repetitive nature of the lyrics in "Rattlesnake" and inappropriate frequency at which these songs are played. The lyrics of "Bugs," specifically, mention arthropods, which can trigger the insectophobia and/or arachnophobia of a not insignificant number of diners. Additionally, Pearl Jam's original version of "Bugs" (the most frequently-played version) includes an intentionally poorly-played accordion in its composition, which the song's composers added with the intention of unnerving its listeners. If these songs continue to be permitted on the Highlander Commons location in the Rockbot app, people who request these songs will continue to administer the aforementioned forms of psychic damage on the others dining, which may potentially reduce the average customer satisfaction with Highlander Commons and reduce its popularity and profit margins.

If neither of "Rattlesnake" or "Bugs" are de-listed as playable songs on the Highlander Commons location, Highlander Commons will continue to worsen as a service and may lead to less students eating in or signing up for meal plans in the near future. Even "first-time" and guest diners may view their experience with Highlander Commons negatively. It is in every stakeholder's best interest to ban both of these songs from this location as soon as possible.

Addendum: Additionally, neither King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard nor Pearl Jam will be harmed by the ban of these specific songs since a wide selection of songs from both of these bands would still be permitted regardless. "Rattlesnake" and "Bugs" are not the best representations of either bands' discography, and guests should still be permitted to request other songs from these bands if they wish to do so.