Students in ISU residence halls may be waiting a little longer for their suppers due to a shortage of ISU Dining Service employees. Maple-Willow-Larch Dining Center Manager Marvel Snyder said it is fairly common for the dining staff to lack employees at the beginning of the year. “We are gaining numbers, but hopefully more holes will be filled by mid-September,” he said. To compensate for the low number of employees, currently employed students have to work more hours, giving them a heavier work load. Meals have also been served on paper plates to help save labor, but it is an expensive alternative for a lack of employees. “The students still need to be fed,” Snyder said. He said the MWL Dining Center alone serves 1,000 to 1,300 people each meal. ISU Dining Service officials have not counted how many jobs are still open for this semester, but Snyder said each dining service usually employs 100 to 120 students each semester. These numbers also depend on how many positions and hours a student chooses to work. “One student working five hours a week is a lot different than a student who wants to work 20,” he said. Seth Giddens, manager of the Oak-Elm Dining Center, said one of the biggest problems is filling positions for the breakfast and lunch shifts since classes during these times create inescapable obstacles for students. Michael Jackson, undeclared freshman, was recently hired by food service and said student workers do not feel added pressure to work more hours to make up for the lack of employees. “They’re really pretty good,” he said. “It’s basically what you want is what you get.” In an effort to raise the size of the current staff, ISU Dining Service administrators have set up promotional material like table tents and posters in addition to mailing information about food service job opportunities to students. “We basically are willing to hire people as quick as they come in here, which is an excellent opportunity for students,” Giddens said. “I’d recommend it to all freshmen,” Jackson said. “The pay is good, they are super flexible, and it’s right on campus.” Students can pick up applications from any of the food service checkers or contact any of the dining center offices for an application and more information.