Accommodations should only be made in situations when a person has a disability. All other requests are lifestyle choices.

Based on the UTA Factbook, there were 33,439 students enrolled fall 2011. This number only includes students. Every student has different needs, and they should not expect them all to be met.

Over the last year, columnists have written in to explain frustrations over not having enough options at Connection Cafe for vegans and vegetarians.

Vegans and vegetarians are fighting for more dietary options to be available on campus. They, along with thousands of other students, are requesting their lifestyle choices be met.

However, the university should not bend. Some students, like myself, don’t eat beef or pork. But instead of requesting more chicken and seafood options, I prepare to meet my own needs because it is my lifestyle choice to adjust my diet.

In addition, when I had to have a meal plan through Connection Cafe, I did not request that the university provide more seafood options every Friday during Lent. I adapted my diet to ensure I did not forsake a Catholic tradition of not consuming beef and pork products.

I also use printing services on campus a lot. As a journalism major and creative writing minor, I often have plenty of assignments that must be printed for editing and critiques. However, the university took away the printing credit. Printing is yet another scenario where I learned to meet my own needs.

Essentially, we all have needs and wants, but we need to learn to adapt to situations when challenging moments arise, like no more printing credits or lack of dietary options.

Instead of changing the systems in place to have your needs met, students, faculty and staff should bring food or choose to eat what options are currently available. You know what your needs are. Prepare for them.