On Feb. 3, Northern Lights Dining (NLD) served “vegan” chicken parmesan at Parsnip which was not labeled as containing milk when real mozzarella cheese was used. As someone recently diagnosed with a food-bourn allergy, I was concerned after I heard this.

According to Feeding America.org, nearly 40% of all food in America is wasted. At every stage in food production and distribution, unwanted and uneaten food is thrown away. This waste totals 108 billion pounds of food each year.

Indoor dining in Michigan is set to reopen by Feb. 1. NMU dining hall will continue to practice COVID-19 safety precautions as they open back up.

For many NMU students, an awareness of the natural world and appreciation for the environment was a factor in deciding where to study during college. In fact, for some, sustainable actions are a priority. At the very least, most students at NMU, where we are surrounded by abundant natural resources and Lake Superior, want to be able to enjoy these beautiful locations for a long time to come. In sum, NMU students care a whole lot about our planet.