Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Thesis

Department

Strategic Communication: Public Relations and Advertising

First Advisor

Alexander E. Carter

Second Advisor

Mark Rademacher

Abstract

Food-centered traditions are central to campus belonging, yet for students with medical dietary restrictions (e.g., celiac disease, severe food allergies), shared meals can become sites of stigma, exclusion, and heightened self-monitoring. Prior research frames these conditions as “invisible disabilities” (Davis, 2005) and highlights dynamics such as hypervigilance and disclosure fatigue (Schelly et al., 2022), which can be intensified when institutional processes are unclear or inconsistently communicated. This project examines how institutional messaging shapes the navigational burden students may experience when seeking safe participation in dining and campus life.

This study uses an artifact-based analysis of existing Butler University communication materials related to dietary restrictions and accommodations. Materials include public-facing webpages and documents, as well as non-public-facing resources provided by campus offices (e.g., signage, orientation materials, and templates) when available. The analysis proceeds in three stages: (1) a system map identifying what resources exist and where they reside across Dining Services, Disability/Accessibility Services, Housing/Residential Life, Orientation, and Events; (2) a student experience map reconstructing implied steps, decision points, and potential gaps across the process; and (3) an evaluative comparison of language and framing to communication best practices for clarity, actionability, and inclusion.

Findings identify patterns in responsibility framing, process clarity, cross-office alignment, and stigma- or belonging-relevant cues in institutional language. These patterns suggest that institutional communication structures shape whether students experience dining systems as accessible or burdensome, culminating in recommendations to strengthen centralized, clear, and inclusive dining communication.

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