A staple gathering spot for Portland State University students is on the chopping block, with the food cart pod next to Millar Library set to shutter by summer's start due to a wastewater quandary. PSU's bustling hub of munchies, beloved for its proximity and variety, hosts four carts that now face eviction after the school's announcement of the July 1 cut-off date for operations, a decision driven by the need for adequate wastewater management which the university's infrastructure currently lacks.

Jonathan Fleming, a PSU student and regular at the pod's Lao street food cart Khao Niew, is having to say his goodbyes to his favorite Monday and Wednesday lunch spot where he relished dishes like the crispy rice salad and papaya salad, even as the impending closure looms students like Fleming are trying to enjoy their go-to eateries for the final few times but the writing's on the wall for this once-thriving snack spot, as reported by WWeek.

According to another student, Riley Wunderlich, the food carts offered unparalleled convenience to everyone on campus, providing an easy option for those looking to fuel up without straying far from their studies, in a statement to KPTV. Venkatsch Pamidi, another PSU student, echoed the sentiment, lamenting the loss of a key study break sanctuary that's positioned ideally next to the library.

PSU authorities justified the difficult decision by citing "a lengthy effort to try to accommodate changing city and county regulations regarding the disposal of wastewater generated by the carts," the campus food carts tried to navigate the shifting regulatory landscape but it seems the costs and complexities associated with retrofitting the existing space to comply have proved insurmountable, leaving both vendors and students facing a future without this integral piece of the PSU community fabric, as documented by KPTV. The clock is now ticking for these small businesses as they search for a new locale to serve up their fare beyond the university's confines.