College Cafeteria Trays An Endangered Species

<p>I think I have you all beat. 'Round here, we have several signs declaring that we've gone trayless, yet surprisingly, there's still trays. I guess they haven't gotten around to actualy getting rid of the signs, but they have attempted to gain the PR.</p>

<p>One of the cafeterias at my school has no tray..it's a smaller one in a residence hall so there probably isn't even room to store trays..and bigger one has trays...</p>

<ol>
<li><p>We had traying at UGA in Athens, even -- on the two or three times that it snowed, everyone used trays to sled down Baxter hill. </p></li>
<li><p>My son's college has trays, but not unlimited food. Of course, they also have the infamous scroungers....</p></li>
</ol>

<p>why is this featured...</p>

<p>no more trays at UNC-CH--more eco-friendly & no one's complaining..it really doesn't bother me, especially after i spent the summer waiting tables and can now carry approximately 48590832 things at once :)</p>

<p>Eco-Friendly!! Tell your colleges not to send so much junk mail to prospective students if they want to be eco-friendly. Thank You</p>

<p>my school in the summer went trayless. but for the new school year they brought the trays back. however what they have done is that they have put lots of signs across the cafeteria urging students to go trayless. this way students who need trays, can still use them, and those who don't just go trayless. and surprisingly a lot of students seem to go trayless. i think it's just being aware of the fact that generally you will take more food than you can eat when you do have a tray. i've been more aware of that this semester so i use the tray sometimes, but when i do, i think closely of what i can eat. and if i want more than i'll go back for seconds. the tray acts mostly for a cover in order to not dirty most of the tables and floor.</p>

<p>At Cornell, the students take away the trays, not the administration :P</p>

<p>They should get smaller trays so kids don't take as much food!</p>

<p>Hopkins did away with them this year. Something like 77% of students wanted to get rid of them.</p>

<p>When I was at DePaul in the late 1970's, they initiated a "pay as you go" food system. We bought "tickets" each worth either 15 or 25 cents. I think we could buy them in $50 increments. There was almost no waste with this system, because it felt like we were "paying" directly for the food we bought (which of course, we were). It wasn't the tray or no-tray that reduced waste, it was the direct-pay which reduced it. </p>

<p>Instead of the $4500 meal plan, bring back a more direct pay system and you will see food waste diminish substantially. Besides, trays are fun.</p>

<p>TrinSF -- Ah, yes, traying on Baxter! I was an RA in Brumby, and in either 1981 or 82, there was a three-day ice storm and everyone slid down Baxter Street past the dorms. I have some great pics of that! I worked at Bolton freshman year, and so when the ice storm hit, I <em>knew</em> where all those trays had come from! ;)</p>

<p>Oh god, Bolton! My husband (well, before he married me) lived in O-house <em>as a freshman</em> (and he wasn't an athlete or anything!), so we were used to a nicer class of food as a result. When we were married, we lived in that little apartment building right across from Myers, near the entrance to O-House. </p>

<p>A friend used to tell people to be wary of eating in Bolton because as he put it, "Grouper don't HAVE fingers!"</p>

<p>Too funny! My BF in college lived in Myers, and I lived in a studio apt. for one summer at the Presbyterian Center right down the street! I was in Creswell freshman year, then Brumby for two.</p>

<p>Revoltin' Bolton...those were the days!</p>

<p>carrying around a mini-pizza that is already in a box, and carrying cooked food (think mashed potatoes & gravy) on a plate, with several open side-dishes. I wouldn't want to juggle a salad and two or three more dishes, plus a drink, around a crowded room without a tray. Do colleges serve meals like that anymore? Or is all the food wrapped, like fast food?</p>

<p>at my school USC, no more trays. It it extremely annoying. I will waste more food just to protest. I think all this no tray thing is ridiculous.</p>

<p>Optional trays is a good idea.</p>

<p>And fewer glossy brochure mailings--that would be eco-friendly!</p>

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Optional trays is a good idea.

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<p>Most hotels make new linens optional for those staying more than one night. The same can be done in cafeterias. Most college kids are can make an informed decision on their own.</p>

<p>Honestly, I hated going to visit my friend at CSUMB (no trays) because I go to UCSC, and I rarely use plates. Many of us eat straight off the tray. The problem is, it's hard to get a full meal on a single plate and carry a drink and carry your books.</p>

<p>they do this on cruises now too 'cause people tend to take way too much food</p>