As a community of students, faculty, and staff studying and working at the University of NC School of the Arts, we find our current food service situation untenable. Our food selection, rather than supporting and nourishing growth, has been reduced to a dreary repertoire of hamburgers and low-quality options. Fruits, one of nature's most accessible sources of essential vitamins, are conspicuously missing from our menu.

For a generation that is more conscious of the importance of a balanced diet than ever before, we are left wanting. It is fundamental to understand our dietary needs should not be limited to the financial prospects of the school. At the end of the day, the food in our dining halls doesn’t just feed our bodies, it fuels our minds.

Statistics from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics confirm that students perform better academically when they maintain a well-balanced diet. It is not just about better grades, it is also about the long-term health of the students. Research shows that good nutrition can help lower the risk of many chronic diseases that may occur later in life.

We call for a change in the food service company overseeing our dining services, one that values nutrition and variety as much as we do. We understand change might not happen overnight, but it is essential to start the dialogue now. Hence, we humbly request your support in bringing about this important change in the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Please lend your voice to ours, and sign this petition.