Dear Editor,

I could not help but see the notice that the university published last week which contained a detailed weekly menu of the items students participating in Lent could eat on Fridays. I’m all for religious inclusion… but where are other food exemptions honored? Ramadan was earlier this year, and I did not happen to see a notice of where students can get food before dawn. What about students who need Halal food? Kosher? It does not appear to me that the university sees them as important.

I don’t think it’s right for a public university to choose what accommodations to cater to, and which to ignore. It sends a message that some are more important than others. The diversity on the Platteville campus is abysmal, and the lack of attention from the university makes me sad. Renaming Easter break to ‘April Break’ doesn’t change the fact that it falls on Easter. While some students are required to notify professors of religious exemptions, Christian students are given food exemptions and holidays off with travel time to boot. That is the norm, even, across high school and universities. While I don’t expect Platteville of all places to break the norm, seeing any amount of respect to other religions would be a breath of fresh air.

We have students from all across the globe, yet our food diversity on campus is laughable. I may be naive in wishing that the university could honor all religions, and that we can all live in peace and harmony.

Sincerely,

Disgruntled