I can without a doubt say that the dining hall staff at Butler University have greatly contributed to my time here in the most positive of ways. There is not a single employee that doesn't greet me with a warm smile each day. These employees go out of their way to call me by my name and ask me how my day is going. They always seem to know when I am having a rough day and know just how to make me laugh.

Last week, as I was standing in line for lunch at ResCo., one of my favorite workers told me that it was her 13-year anniversary. Thirteen years. What a long time to be at the same place. In fact, that's longer than many of Butler's faculty have been teaching at the university.

So, tell me, Butler University, why is it that not just the staff, but anybody that works in an academic building, isn't handed a free education? To be blunt, I do not want to hear that they are not technically employed by the university because I am aware they aren't. I understand that many businesses make the same decision in order to save money. I'm not saying that the financial aspect isn't important (as tuition was recently raised by 3.5%). I'm just saying that I think we are missing out on a massive opportunity.

Let's consider the following:

1. Butler stresses the importance of diversity and inclusion.

2. Over 80% of Butler undergraduates are white.

3. At any given moment that you walk into Atherton you will see that the majority of workers are people of color.

Given these statements, is it really that crazy of an idea that we offer the same opportunity to our dining hall staff that is offered to our faculty? For an administration that appears to be so puzzled as to how to increase campus diversity, maybe the answer is closer than you think. Maybe if we popped the Butler Bubble and stepped a few blocks past Sunset Avenue for a few minutes we would be more aware of the slanted world in which we live. It is in the neighborhoods directly surrounding us, the neighborhoods that many of the employees walk to work from each morning, that this can be seen. I don't really think that 13 years of their loyalty for four of ours seems too wild.

Despite the positive changes that are occurring, people of color continue to make up the largest chunk of people living in poverty. Additionally, people of color make significantly less than the average white person. As a private institution with a steep annual tuition (tuition and fees at $40,125 and room and board at $12,947), how do you expect the families of potentially more diverse students to afford such fees? No, a scholarship is not even part of this conversation as Butler University is among the universities that provide the lowestnumber of scholarships. Our system is flawed. Our efforts are poorly executed. We are not doing enough.

The thing is that I keep trying to tell myself that I will not let my skin color hold me back and that one day I will sit in a position of power where I can call the shots. I tell myself that it is our generation that is going to insist on change. But that is becoming hard to do when the only people I see on campus that remotely resemble me lie outside of academia. Then again, do I really want my role models to be those that turn a blind eye to injustice?

Every ounce of my being is thankful and honored that I am a student at Butler, but we cannot keep telling ourselves that this is somebody else's problems. That does not exhibit the Community of Care nor the Butler Way. Despite what we may choose to believe, this is a problem for all of us. Endless research has proven that we find greater success while working and learning with those that are different from us. Different perspectives are discussed, new ideas are heard. We are denying ourselves the possibility of achieving higher academic excellence.

By no means do I have all the answers but surely our current method could be improved.

And to all of the dining hall staff, thank you. Know that all of us students love you deeply, and your hard work does not go without notice. Each day we look forward to seeing your faces, and hearing about your lives. Know that with each break that comes we miss you immensely. You are part of our family.