Sodexo, cafeteria crack down on generosity

Sodexo Dining Services has revoked the take-out privileges of several students this semester for taking food from the cafeteria and sharing it with other people.

When students enter the cafeteria, they are given the option of dining in the cafeteria or opting to get a to-go box and taking their food with them to wherever they may be headed.

A student must tell the cashier immediately if they wish to take their food to go. If a student forgets and walks away from the cashier, only to remember later and walk back, they will be denied a to-go box and forced to either stay and eat in the cafeteria or leave without food. The take-out policy, which can be found on Sodexo's website, also states any student who is in violation of the policy will not be able to use the take-out program in the future.

As of this semester some students have had their take-out privileges revoked for violating this policy by taking food out of the cafeteria and giving it to other people. This punishment has yielded some incensed reactions from students.

"I think you should be able to do whatever you want with the food you get from the cafeteria," junior biology major Clay Friddle said. "How is giving away food any different than wasting it by taking two bites and throwing it away, as many people do?" When faced with the arguments of students, Sodexo general manager John Offerle explained the issue of sharing food and how doing so is in direct violation of the take-out policy.

"The meal plan is there for the person who has paid for the plan and them only," Offerle said. "I'm sure parents wouldn't want to hear the meal they purchased for their child is going to someone else. It is, in essence, stealing."

While this punishment has been met with disdain and even anger from some students, there are other students who still do not understand what the big deal is.

"If the cafeteria is getting the money from students for each meal they take out, then I don't see why they should care if somebody decides to give their food away to somebody else," junior marketing major Rachel Payne said. "It's their property. They paid for it and can do with it what they choose."