Recently, Indiana University of Pennsylvania has released a statement laying out the general return plan for the fall 2020 semester. IUP is making significant accommodations in our classrooms, public spaces, and dorm halls to ensure students' safety. While the community is grateful for the considerations already being made, there still seems to be a rather large elephant in the room... Safe dining opportunities for the upcoming semester have been overlooked.

In Michael Driscoll's latest video statement (https://www.facebook.com/iupedu/videos/336901470622466/ he states that, "North Dining, Crimson Cafe, and the Hadley Union Building will be open...You can expect to find in all of those public spaces around campus new signage and guidelines to make sure that you are staying six feet away from other people... the sort of thing you're seeing now in grocery stores and other service entities..." If you have seen these referenced "guidelines" in a grocery store, and you have also experienced navigating the physical layout and mealtime traffic of North Dining Hall (which has recently doubled following the closure of Folger Dining Hall), you would know that trying to implement the proper safety regulations while feeding students in a timely manner to suit their busy class schedules is not feasible. During lunchtime on any normal weekday, it is nearly impossible to find a seat unless you are willing to sit two feet away from a stranger. A good configuration for making friends? Sure! A good configuration for keeping Steve from coughing on your spaghetti? Absolutely not. An easy solution to this potential nightmare? Take inspiration from the restaurants that have been able to continue service during these crazy times!

By offering takeout boxes for a meal swipe from each station in North Dining Hall, IUP would be enabling the staff to more easily regulate the number of students enjoying the seated sections of the dining hall. Additionally, this would be giving many students peace of mind knowing that they can walk in to receive a meal without having to take off their mask, risking exposure, to eat. While there are certainly many other takeout options on campus such as pasta, burgers, sandwiches, salads, or pizza- they are simply not sustainable meals to eat over a long period of time. A healthy diet requires variety- something that is only available at North Dining Hall. Not to mention, North hosts the allergen free station that many students rely on for most meals.

In terms of costs, North Dining Hall is typically a buffet-style arrangement. The money saved from students taking multiple servings of food should suffice to support this endeavor (and hopefully purchase biodegradable food packaging products!)

If you think that takeout boxes would be a great option for IUP students to have at North Dining Hall this fall, please sign this petition! I would love to have some more support on this idea. Thank you for your time and consideration!