Cafeteria cracks down on meal thefts

By Amanda Hickey
Senior Staff Writer

Students without meal plans have been entering the cafeteria through the side and back doors and stealing meals.

"Usually during this time of year there are a lot of students living in the apartments or commuting who don't have meal plans and come in the back doors," said general manager Mike Nance.

Photo by Amanda Hickey Sgt. Stephen Brooks and Detective Ed Locklear are watching for students entering the cafeteria without paying for meals.

Nance estimated three or four students sneaking in a week, but thinks more could be coming in that the cafeteria staff doesn't see.

"We're trying to catch all of them, but during our main rush we can't see the students coming in because we're busy providing," said Nance. 

"It's hard for us to monitor it during the meal period, so we asked Campus Police to help us," he said.

Every day during meal periods, campus police will be in the cafeteria watching the doors.

"We'd like to eliminate the larceny that's been happening in the cafeteria.  Unfortunately the only way it seems possible is to charge a few people and let them know that we are here and we will be charging them," said Detective Ed Locklear of Campus Police.

Those caught entering the cafeteria, and helping people enter, will be charged at both campus and state levels.  On Feb. 14, three students were charged: two for larceny, and one for assisting the larceny.

Meal plans are available for anyone on campus, including commuter students.