By: Daytin Inserra-Cunningham
OMAHA, Neb. — The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is grappling with a wave of discontent following the recent announcement of a new bake sale policy, which has left students and organizations upset.
UNO’s decision to require that all food served on campus must either come from UNO Dining Services and Catering or be pre-packaged when store-bought has raised concerns about its impact on cultural celebrations and financial strains on student organizations.
Hakim Lotoro, UNO’s Student Body President, voiced his concerns, shedding light on the lack of warning students received about the policy. “We didn’t have too much of a heads up on it. We didn’t have too much participation on the front end,” Lotoro noted, emphasizing the abruptness of the change.
One group particularly affected by this policy shift is multicultural organizations. Many had originally planned to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by sharing homemade cultural foods. However, UNO’s new policy forced them to quickly change their plans.
Lotoro lamented the financial repercussions on these organizations, stating, “They are trying to hold events to celebrate events like Hispanic Heritage Month. They are trying to fund a lot of their end-of-the-year projects, a lot of their trips, so we’re seeing there is a pretty massive amount of benefit that the students were gonna receive from at least a financial standpoint.”
Student Government gathers to discuss the new bake sale policy. (Photo/Daytin Inserra-Cunningham)
UNO is not alone in facing backlash over stringent bake sale policies. Universities across the United States, including the University of New York at Birmingham, have encountered similar challenges. This growing trend raises concerns about the limitations being placed on traditional bake sales and fundraising efforts on campuses nationwide.
Eva Burklund, a member of UNO’s student senate, advises students to stay persistent in their efforts to address this issue. She urged, “If this is something you care about, continue talking to student senators, continue talking to administrators, continue going to town halls, continue having your voice heard in any avenue possible and believe that it might be able to change something because you never know.”
Those who are looking to stay informed about the ongoing issues at UNO, student government meetings are a valuable resource. These meetings occur regularly on Thursdays at 7 P.M., providing students with a platform to voice their concerns and actively engage with the university’s decision-making processes.
UNO’s Milo Bail Student Center is one of the places that student government meeting are held every Thursday at 7 P.M. (Photo/Daytin Inserra-Cunningham)
UNO’s new bake sale policy has ignited a passionate response from students and organizations alike. As they navigate these changes, students remain determined to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns addressed by the university administration. The impact of these policy decisions on campus life and cultural celebrations will likely continue to be a topic of discussion in the coming months.
