Butter brushed rolls and ceramic plateware made this year’s Cafsgiving a success. Caf trays, however, were largely absent from the Nov. 20th spectacle. Known for their sandy hue and Biola emblem, trays are a staple in the Biola Caf, but not because students use them. According to a recent poll, 73% of Biolans have never used a Cafeteria tray. Caf guests, prospective students, and the occasional professor are instantly recognizable because they make use of handy-dandy trays. I’ll admit, it would be easier to snag a tray rather than make multiple trips to and from your table. Despite the ease and simplicity of Caf trays, many students still choose not to pick one up. Freshman Ryan Minassian questions why students don’t use trays in the cafeteria, but he has embraced it as the norm. 

“I don’t understand the stigma around trays, but I’m here for it,” said Minassian. 

While we may never uncover the origin behind our tray rejection, this quirky aspect of Biola culture speaks volumes about social conformity. In her Social Psychology Class, senior Sarah Ujifusa discussed Caf tray usage as an example of conformity. Conformity occurs when people change their behaviors to follow a group. This can be caused by informational influence, “when people follow those they believe are more knowledgeable.” Social conformity isn’t necessarily bad and can create unique cultural norms. It becomes a problem, however, if you feel peer-pressured to conform to pointless or harmful stereotypes and expectations. 

When students or visitors get side-eyed for carrying a tray, it can create an unintentionally judgmental environment. It’s important that we don’t let cultural norms and personal preferences negatively dictate what we think about others’ decisions, even with silly matters like serveware. To broaden our minds and destigmatize Caf trays, here are 30 conventional and unconventional ways to use cafeteria trays, as shared by students. While Bon Appétit staff may not approve of some of these ideas, they’ll help you see Caf trays as more than just stigmatized dishware, but a blank slate for innovation. 

30 WAYS TO USE A CAF TRAY

1. As a frisbee. (Junior, Andrew Morgan)
2. You could joust with it as your shield as you fly across the Caf floor at your opponent on one of those carts the Caf workers are always pushing around! (Junior, Andrew Morgan)
3. As a sort of “sled” that could slide down hills… perhaps Caf Hill. (Junior, Tyler Jones)
4. As a shield in battle. (Freshman, Emily Page)
5. As a fabulous fan. (Junior, Olivia Bakker)
6. In another weird art installment on campus. (Transfer, Hannah Gutman)
7. As seats in a classroom, they could be given legs.  (Transfer, Hannah Gutman)
8. To collect trash/dishes from other tables! (Sophomore, Emma Clausen)
9. On the roof of your car, when it rains, to block a leak… cheaper than getting it fixed for sure. (Sophomore, Julianna Huffman) 
10. To cover your face to hide your face from people you wish to avoid at the Caf. (Junior, Hannah Salzman)
11. For creating Greco-Roman phalanx forms so as to defend oneself. (Junior, Hannah Salzman)
12. As a shield in battle against any heretics at Biola. (Junior, Micah Branner)
13. You could reserve seats/tables with Caf trays. (Freshman, Caleb Galindo)
14. You could do homework on it, so your work doesn’t get wet if a drink spills on the table. (Freshman, Caleb Galindo) 
15. You could take many Caf trays and build an epic fort with your friends. (Senior, Sarah Ujifusa)
16. As a snowshoe. (Postgraduate, Mark Sizelove)
17. It could be used as a small boat. (Postgraduate, Mark Sizelove)
18. You could spin it on your finger like a pizza to get girls. (Freshman, Abigail Price)
19. You can use it as a shield, like Captain America! (Freshman, Owen Chase) 
20. As a wall decoration. (Freshman, Kaitlyn Schubert)
21. Add some wheels and you could ride it. (Freshman, James Rahkola)
22. Kickflipping it like a soccer ball. (Freshman, James Rahkola) 
23. For boogie boarding down the creek. (Sophomore, Sarah Twisselmann)
24. As stylish—though undoubtedly precarious—hats. Such a debonair look never falls flat (despite the flatness of these unconventional caps). (Freshman, Campbell Leiloglou) 
25. As armor during the zombie apocalypse. (Freshman, Ada Shaw)
26. You could make a tray tower and use it to house poor homeless opossums. (Freshman, Ryan Minassian)
27. You could melt them all down and make a statue, in a non-idolatrous way. (Freshman, Ryan Minassian)
28. You could use it like an umbrella. (Junior, Elizabeth Haan)
29. As a weapon of mass destruction to cause an absolute fiendish amount of damage to all who are unfortunate enough to cross you. (Senior, Lucas Angelone)
30. As your new best friend. (Senior, Lucas Angelone)

At the end of the day, the only limit to Caf trays is your imagination (and Campus Safety).  Whether you choose to (carefully) sled on one or never touch a tray during college, I hope you can appreciate the reliability and convenience of Caf trays. And who knows? You may one day need an impromptu umbrella or a quick way to stockpile Cafsgiving rolls. In that case, Biola trays have your back and will continue to be the reliable, sandy-hued Caf staple they’ve always been.