"They would naturally say that, don't you think?" D'Andria said of the shop stewards' charges.

But this week, another employee at the Union echoed Hicks' complaints.

"This is my personal feeling, that they don't care for Blacks," said the employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Other workers at the Union have been divided over whether the Union is fraught with racial tensions, with some saying that dining hall employees get along well with each other and with their bosses.

Still, many of the workers seconded Hicks' charges that they are harassed for calling in sick.

"They bother us when we call in sick," said one. "They give you a hard time."

"Morale sucks," said another.

HDS administrators denied the charges.

"We do not force them to come in when they're sick," D'Andria said. "We may say, 'What's the problem?' But that's all we ask them."

"If they say they're sick, we do not call them in," Berry said. "I'd like to have someone show me one instance."

According to one worker, however, talking to Berry is not a good idea, even when the director extends an invitation.

The worker, who said he went to see Berry about a problem he was having with D'Andria, received a written warning from the mealtime messiah the following day.

"In the future, the ONLY instance when you will involve the Director with unit issues is after thorough discussion(s) with your unit management team," Berry wrote. "I will NOT again agree to meet with you UNLESS the meeting is scheduled by Ms. D'Andria or another member of the Freshman Union management."

Berry has said in the past that he prides himself on his accessibility.

"I'm not an ogre at all," he said. "If there was something that was bothering [the dining hall workers], they would tell me. I really have a good rapport with them."