Aggies were in for a shock as they returned Monday, Mar. 9 from spring break when they entered Williams Cafeteria and found “tray-less dining”.Tray-less dining in the café was initiated by auxiliary services in order to reduce the amount of water, energy and food consumption by students. Dr. Godfrey Uzochukwu, the director of Waste Management Institution, presented the idea in February at a Presidential Advisory Committee of Efficiency and Effectiveness (P.A.C.E.).The original idea occurred to Dr. Uzochukwu when he dined at the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg.”When I asked them where the trays were, they told me did not use trays,” said Dr. Uzochukwu. “Then when I asked why not, they began to explain ‘tray-less dining’ to me.”Other universities that have implemented tray-less dining include UNC-Chapel Hill, Bennett College for Women and Methodist College. North Carolina Central University is set to open its new cafeteria Monday, which will practice tray-less dining.”I do not like it at all,” said Dominique Trent, a senior Broadcast production major from Virginia. “I’m the type of person that likes to do as many things as possible at once.”Numbers estimate that it takes one-fourth of a gallon of water to clean each individual tray. Auxiliary services are hoping to continue the idea of “Aggies go green” with tray-less dining. The potential savings without trays include cutbacks on chemicals released while cleaning the trays and enhancing water conservation.”Students indulge or eat less because they can not fit all the food they want on the tray,” said Angela Peterson, director of Auxiliary Services. “Once students get used to the mental aspect of not having a tray, I think they will take to it very easily.”Although the costs of water, energy and food consumption will be reduced, auxiliary services does not predict that tray-less dining will decrease the cost of dining in Williams. Since the trays have been taken away, there has not been an abnormal amount of spills, or trash etc. in the cafeteria. Tray-less dining was first tested the week before spring break in faculty dining. Although some faculty sent emails commending the efforts, some did not support the idea. After one week of no trays, faculty dining received its trays back. This week in faculty dining, auxiliary services is using for feedback, through surveys, from faculty and staff.Students taking the course Waste Management Institution 333: Waste Management Capstone were given the task of debating whether or not A&T should go tray-less. The students were split up into groups and debated the pros and cons of not utilizing trays during breakfast, lunch or dinner. After the student examined both sides the consensus was reached that A&T should go tray-less. The students were not aware that the idea was to already be implemented.The trays in Williams Cafeteria will return Saturday March 14. Next week students will be asked to complete surveys giving their opinions of tray-less dining. If the majority of students like the idea, “tray-less dining” will be effective in the fall of 2009.

• Jasmine Johnson