The prohibition on taking food out of Bowie State University's Dining Hall is a rule that has drastically impacted students, faculty, and other dining hall payers since its introduction just a few years ago.

As students and faculty, we all have different schedules that do not always allow us to sit in the Hall and to gain the proper nutrition that we need. This is especially true for band students (especially those in marching band), student athletes, and other campus clubs that have later practices and need constant and consistent nutritious intake - not just fried, greasy and heavy foods offered as late-night options from the Pub. To make matters worse, the Pub is the only one out of two late-night options for food on campus. If taking food from the Dining Hall is prohibited, then the aforementioned parties are only forced to choose unhealthy options for sustenance. No other eatery on campus has the same nutrition balance than the Dining Hall.

In addition, our meal plans have already covered the cost of our food. When people outside of the meal plan pay, their dollars also cover their food. If we've already paid/are already paying, then we deserve full flexibility to what we've paid for. Truly, it is unfair to micromanage how people facilitate what they've already purchased, especially when health and wellness is involved.

The implementation of this rule has also resulted in two key issues: food waste and food insecurity. Food waste occurs when food is not eaten but instead, is disposed of or not recycled (i.e., composting). Food insecurity is when people are met with limited options of food or a limited quality of food.

Nationwide, dining halls present a massive point of food wastage daily, with a study by LeanPath revealing that a single university can waste up to 142,000 pounds of food annually (source: LeanPath). On the other hand, food insecurity among students is a crucial concern. According to a study by the College and University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA), over 30% of college students in the United States struggle with food insecurity. The prohibition at hand only worsens these issues. The allowance for students, faculty, and other payers to take food out of the Dining Hall would not only help to significantly reduce food waste but would challenge issues of food insecurity at Bowie State and accommodate for those who need it most.

 I, therefore, urge the administration to overturn this rule and again make it possible for students, faculty members, and general Dining Hall payers to take food out of the Dining Hall to consume at their convenience.

Please sign my petition to support this cause and overturn this rule.