Staff and faculty at Eastern Michigan University have expressed their frustration alongside students regarding changes to E|Dining’s locations and offerings.
Students initially raised concerns after an Aug. 18, 2025, email announced the closure of the Pray-Harrold, Student Center, Mark Jefferson and Crossroads markets, in addition to several Student Center restaurants.
EMU junior Jason Folk started the petition “Restore Accessible Dining Options at EMU,” which has garnered 1,635 signatures as of Sept. 28, 2025.
But students are not the only ones frustrated by the changes. EMU is home to over 1,000 teaching faculty and staff, many of whom spend long hours on campus just like their students.
Sara Lynne Schultz is the coordinator for the Math and Statistics Tutoring Center, located in Pray-Harrold. Schultz is on campus Monday through Friday, from about 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
“I basically live in Pray-Harrold,” Schultz said. “I would go down [to the market] for a snack or even their hot water to make tea or coffee.”
When the university announced the closure of the Pray-Harrold market, Schultz said she was upset by the impact of the changes.
“The closed markets in academic buildings are not helpful,” Schultz said. “For anyone with a tight schedule, it’s virtually impossible to make it to where they’re funneling people.”
The university said in an email sent on Sept. 10 that the market spaces in Pray-Harrold and the Student Center would reopen in a vending-style format.
“The Market at Pray-Harrold will soon reopen with grab-and-go favorites,” the email said.
Amanda Maher is an associate professor in the department of History and Philosophy who also works in Pray-Harrold.
“I probably bought my coffee there three to five times a week,” Maher said. “That was the first thing I did, and I was often the first person there.”
But Maher said the closure of the market is more than just losing her morning coffee.
“Losing the marketplaces in place of what they’re calling ‘frictionless vending machines’ represents a significant loss of social and community spaces on campus,” Maher said.
