Howard Students Are Outraged at On-Campus Food Options

Howard University’s Georgia Avenue (Chelia Alston Burgie/101Mag)

WASHINGTON D.C. — From the start of the Fall 2025 semester students at Howard University have been voicing growing frustration over the lack of food options both on and near campus, with many taking to social media to express their concerns.

TikTok user “arianaluvsme4” created a video with over sixteen thousand views and over four thousand likes, with many comments agreeing to a popular audio that explains the frustration and confusion of where to go now. The audio from the TikTok claimed that Howard students randomly shut down the diversified food truck.

Georgia Avenue between Bryan Street and Euclid Street once served as a dependable dining strip for students. The strip included popular spots like Chipotle, Negril and Subway. Nearly all of the restaurant fast food chains have been shuttered without explanation. Subway, the last to remain open, “Diversified,” a food truck that was a student-favorite, has also disappeared. “Diversified” sold wings, french fries, hamburgers, grilled chicken, shrimp, fish and cold drinks. Diversified was also easy for students to access and was reliable.

Senior Jada Henery said, “Freshmen will not know how special it was to step outside and get a five-piece and fries with hot sauce, lemon pepper and seasoning on a late Friday night.” 

Another student shared the same sentiment by saying, “There’s nowhere to eat here, which is why I’m usually hungry at night,” said Brandon Thomas, a freshman at Howard.

The on-campus dining situation hasn’t fared much better. On Aug. 18 the university’s main dining hall removed several food options, further limiting students’ choices, especially those with dietary restrictions. NuVegan, being the first to be removed since last year, has limited even more options for students. The current replacements are Everbowl, a smoothie shop; Zoca, a Mexican restaurant; and S&T Sushi.

Among the removed vendors are “WOW!”, which was popular for their diverse menus. The closures have left many students struggling to find meals that suit their dietary needs.

“I have a couple of friends who are vegan, and they don’t have as many options anymore,” said senior Mikayla Andre.

On weekends, the situation worsens. According to Howard’s official dining website, only one cafeteria remains open at 10 a.m. and it closes at 7 p.m., leaving students with few evening options. Howard Campus Dish displays “Meal plans at Howard range from $1,283 to $3,142.”

Morgan State University is about an hour away by car from Howard and has a dining hall that closes at midnight. Morgan State University also has a specific dining hall called “Neapolitan pizza” and “Deli-licious” Sandwich bar, while Howard scrapped their pizza and sandwich station in the Blackburn cafeteria at the beginning of the fall. 

Starbucks was officially closed this fall semester, adding to the ongoing shortage of campus dining options. “Sounds like an apocalypse,” said Sha-Dania Peterson, a 2025 Howard alumna.

When asked about the remaining food options, students said they feel the space is being occupied without offering a real dining choice. “Halal Shack was only there because it moves the fastest,” said senior Khalil Callender.

Students’ alternative to this food desert is McDonald’s. The fast food chain has been established since 2004. It is the only fast food restaurant on the Georgia Avenue strip that’s still open.

Other students, particularly freshmen, do not have access to a kitchen in their dorms, while specifically upperclassmen must also resort to buying groceries and cooking in their rooms. A TikTok comment reads, “Howard’s already a food desert, so what the heck are the students gonna do?” 

As of Sept. 4, students across different years are expressing collective disappointment in what they see as a continuing decline in food accessibility on campus.

Where Things Stand Now:

As the fall semester continues, students say the shortage of accessible dining options has only grown more difficult to manage. Many report that the lack of affordable, nearby meals is forcing them to spend significantly more on food delivery apps.

Senior Chiagozie Umobi said he now relies on DoorDash several times a week, a habit he describes as “financially draining.”

“I spend at least up to $140 per week DoorDashing now that the options are so scarce,” Umobi said. “It’s either that or go hungry.”

Students say they hope the university will address the ongoing food desert on and around campus before the burden grows even heavier.