2008 Woodie Awards
Silver where? $10,000 in kitchenware goes missing
Dining equipment theft serves up increasing meal costs
Sara Breau
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News
There have been 1,225 pieces of dinnerware including cups, plates, bowls, and 213 pieces of silverware stolen from Hilltop Commons this year according to Associate Director of Residential Dining, Kathy Kittridge.
A reported $5,000 worth of dishes has been taken from the commons throughout the course of the first semester. Currently, tabletop displays state the number has climbed to $10,000.
A first-year resident from Oxford Hall said that he has taken a basic set of silverware for his room because he didn't have any to use. Another student admitted to having taken cups, bowls and silverware on occasion, as well as a salt, pepper, cinnamon and sugar shakers. She blamed her thefts on bets placed with her friends.
Some students feel the cost of the dishes they stole does not negatively affect the university because of the high cost of the meal plans.
"It's just too bad, really, we get all these brand new dishes and make an effort to have nice ones for the students to use, then they go and take them from us. At Stewart Commons, students were not allowed to bring their backpacks into the cafeteria ... so many dishes were being stolen that we would run out of them halfway through meals, which led to us having to go out and buy more," said Gina Conners, Customer Service Supervisor.
"We have been concerned with the amount of theft at Hilltop Commons and will need to work on security for next semester," Kittridge said.
Kittridge was hoping to get the dishes back to prevent unnecessary heightened costs for the university and dining services which could lead to a rise in the cost of student bills. Tara Loomis, Director of the Department of Residence Life, suggested an amnesty box be put in the Hilltop Commons for students to return stolen dishes.
Conners agreed that this was a good idea and something that she would be willing to do, if it meant that some of the dishes would be retrieved. Conners also suggested students not be allowed to bring backpacks into the commons.
Conners said she has spotted students leaving the commons with bulges under their clothes, which she said were dishes but said she is unable to stop them since it is considered an invasion of privacy unless the dishes are fully visible.
A reported $5,000 worth of dishes has been taken from the commons throughout the course of the first semester. Currently, tabletop displays state the number has climbed to $10,000.
A first-year resident from Oxford Hall said that he has taken a basic set of silverware for his room because he didn't have any to use. Another student admitted to having taken cups, bowls and silverware on occasion, as well as a salt, pepper, cinnamon and sugar shakers. She blamed her thefts on bets placed with her friends.
Some students feel the cost of the dishes they stole does not negatively affect the university because of the high cost of the meal plans.
"It's just too bad, really, we get all these brand new dishes and make an effort to have nice ones for the students to use, then they go and take them from us. At Stewart Commons, students were not allowed to bring their backpacks into the cafeteria ... so many dishes were being stolen that we would run out of them halfway through meals, which led to us having to go out and buy more," said Gina Conners, Customer Service Supervisor.
"We have been concerned with the amount of theft at Hilltop Commons and will need to work on security for next semester," Kittridge said.
Kittridge was hoping to get the dishes back to prevent unnecessary heightened costs for the university and dining services which could lead to a rise in the cost of student bills. Tara Loomis, Director of the Department of Residence Life, suggested an amnesty box be put in the Hilltop Commons for students to return stolen dishes.
Conners agreed that this was a good idea and something that she would be willing to do, if it meant that some of the dishes would be retrieved. Conners also suggested students not be allowed to bring backpacks into the commons.
Conners said she has spotted students leaving the commons with bulges under their clothes, which she said were dishes but said she is unable to stop them since it is considered an invasion of privacy unless the dishes are fully visible.
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George Cluney
posted 9/18/08 @ 9:02 PM EST
I cant believe anyone would steel silver Where! Seariousley whats up with some people? Y would you do that I am so dissapointed I mean god I would steel somthing more expensive (if I had to)I would NEVER realy steel. (Continued…)
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