After reducing hours and laying off student employees before the start of the semester due to budget constraints, Murray-Dodge Café returned to near-normal hours in September. However, Murray-Dodge is now operating with half of its original staff and does not plan to rehire fired workers or hire new workers to fill the shifts.
The staff was cut in half from approximately 30 students to 16 bakers and two co-managers, a result of both layoffs and graduating seniors. Murray-Dodge now staffs one baker per shift, with the exceptions of busy hours and the closing shift, during which shifts overlap to accommodate the need for two employees. Prior to the cuts, two bakers worked every shift.
The changes in hours and staffing come during a time of uncertainty about student employment, with budget cuts causing staff reductions and shortened hours across campus. In an email to The Daily Princetonian, University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill cited budget constraints as “the primary reason for the initial reduction in hours” at the café.
The daily operating hours were reduced to a 4:30 p.m. open and 9:30 p.m. close for the first two weeks of this semester. They have since between restored to a 12:30 p.m. open to 12 a.m. close.
“I’m pleased that we were able to reallocate funds within ORL [Office of Religious Life] to restore the fuller schedule,” wrote Morrill. She attributed the decision to reduce hours at Murray-Dodge to Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel Theresa Thames.
Taibat Ahmed ’27, a current baker at the café, said in an interview with the ‘Prince’ that having only one baker per shift has made the work more difficult. “There’s always busy periods because a lot of people suddenly come in, and having to handle that by yourself is definitely a lot harder than it used to be,” she said.
Michael Nguyen ’27, also employed at Murray-Dodge, added that bakers are experiencing constraints on the kinds of cookies they are able to bake. “We have a lot less ingredients. Murray-Dodge used to be more fun in flavors all the time, and now we basically only have chocolate chip,” he said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’
Staff were informed that budget cuts could potentially affect their employment as early as May last semester, although their official status was not made clear until August, when some student workers were laid off.
Laid-off employee Jaylee Witcher ’27 expressed that the status of her position was in flux throughout the summer. “Their [Murray-Dodge’s] original email said, ‘Let us know if you’d be interested in staying.’ And I very much was, so I said, ‘Of course, I’ll stay,’” she explained in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ “And then I got an email from the higher-up woman that was like, ‘We have to let you go.’”
Witcher noted that budget cuts were cited as the reasoning for her firing and that she has not received further communication from Murray-Dodge since August.
“I’ve been boycotting [the café],” Witcher added. “I have a new job now. Big things are happening for me.”
“I think everyone who was laid off or fired should be taken back because I’ve spoken to these people, and they really want their jobs back,” said Ahmed.
Murray-Dodge does not plan to restore the staff to its original numbers despite almost-normal hours and student interest in bringing back former employees.
“There are no plans to rehire or add additional staff, unless a demonstrated need arises. With the reorganization of shifts, we believe the current staffing levels are appropriate,” Morrill wrote.
Thomas Catalano is an associate News editor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Los Angeles, Calif. and typically covers University administration.
Haeon Lee is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Brooklyn, NY and can be reached at hl1389@princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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