During the past two years, as a result of the global pandemic, the UAH cafeteria offered a take-out dining option for all students. This year, with relaxing restrictions in national COVID-19 policy, this service has been discontinued for unspecified reasons.

We, the students, faculty, and other associated members of the University believe this service should be reinstated for a variety of reasons, including:

Continued protection of immuno-compromised or otherwise vulnerable members of the community.

While the 'worst' of the pandemic has passed, the long-lasting and unprecedented effects it brought still remain. Furthermore, scientists and immunologists have not yet fully ascertained the scale and intensity of possible post-infection consequences. It is in the interest of UAH to continue supporting those seeking to take extra precautions for themselves or others.

Accommodating for the busy schedules of students.

Oftentimes, students encounter difficulty in scheduling adequate time between classes to allow for a meal break. This is entirely out of their control in many cases, as courses are often limited to a singular section, without other possible time slots that may have allowed for a reasonable meal period. Providing a take-out option would allow students pressed for time to obtain food quickly and bring it to a more suitable location, so that they do not arrive late to classes. This is a particular struggle for students moving to and from opposite sides of campus within the limited span of 20 minutes, especially for those who do not have access to a vehicle.

Providing adequate food for students in poor financial situations.

Proper nutrition is essential to education at any level. The take-out options for the cafeteria also allowed low-income students solely relying on their meal plan for food to ensure a full, balanced meal and leftovers they otherwise would not have access to. As takeout allows you to bring home a larger meal's worth of food, many students use this option as a chance to fully provide for themselves instead of potentially skipping a meal due to time or budget constraints.

Relieving undue pressure on the dining staff to keep facilities in order.

With labor shortages being a recurring issue across the country, services such as the UAH cafeteria may run into issues managing all aspects of the dining services at once, with the sheer number of students and other individuals making use of the cafeteria. Dishwashers are often back-logged, resulting in slower resupplies of plates and silverware to the various serving stations. Furthermore, this (and other) backlogs reduce the ability of staff to ensure a clean and sanitized environment to eat in. Tables are left dirty, and spills occasionally remain on the floor for long periods of time. With the re-addition of take out, fewer students would choose to remain in the cafeteria to dine, thus relieving pressure on those tasked with the various maintenance and cleaning of the area.

Ultimately, the provision of take-out services within the cafeteria remains a useful service that should not be so easily removed. The benefits of continuing to provide take-out dining options cannot be overlooked or underestimated in the interest of guaranteeing a positive academic experience here at UAH.