The LHS student handbook states that “coats are not to be worn in the serving lines” in the cafeteria. Many students are unfamiliar with the rule because few take the time to read the guidelines detailed in the handbook.
According to Daniel Lyons, Director of Dining Services, a rule regarding backpacks has been in place for the past 6 years. While never explicitly stated anywhere, the cafeteria has the right to ask students to leave their backpack at their table if the staff wishes.
Recently, controversy occurred when signs appeared also prohibiting students from wearing hoodies or backpacks in the serving lines.
Many students were confused by the rule—or simply didn’t notice. Students are used to walking into the serving lines with the intent of obtaining food, not thinking about their apparel.
“I was about to enter the lunch line,” one freshman girl said, “when a man stopped me and told me I couldn’t go in while wearing my sweater…I was sent away to take it off [and] didn’t come back. I just ate part of a friend’s lunch.”
The deans have asked Lyons to remove the signs because the restriction of hooded sweatshirts is not detailed by the rule in the handbook.
“I think we’re splitting hairs,” Lyons said.
Students are still prohibited from wearing coats in the serving lines. Cafeteria workers can still request that students remove their backpacks to enter the line.
The cafeteria never intended to discourage students from purchasing food through the harsher restrictions.
The cafeteria workers started enforcing the rule in a harsher manner due to a recent rise in cafeteria thefts.
A sign is now posted in or outside the lines detailing the punishments students will face if caught stealing from the cafeteria.
In the past calendar year, five students have been charged with theft by the District. Two of the students were prosecuted and were placed on probation. They had to pay a one hundred dollar fine. The remaining three students were assigned community service hours.
LHS has limited jurisdiction over food choices and prices in the cafeteria. They simply provide space for a private company, in this case Chartwells Food Service, to supply food for the students. And because Chartwells is private, Drops of Ink was unable to acquire their annual revenues and expenses to discover whether thefts truly affect their monetary gain.
District 128, however, does lose money on the cafeteria program annually.
“The purpose of the cafeteria program is not for the district to make money…The point is to provide reasonably priced food options so the students don’t feel the need to leave campus for food,” Assistant Superintendant for Business Yasmine Dada said.
Technically, there is no need for a student to steal from the cafeteria serving lines. LHS offers a free or reduced lunch program to anyone who falls inside the federal aid guidelines. The program is completely anonymous. Students and parents simply need to fill out a form and provide some proof of annual income to apply. If the student’s request is approved, lunch is free of charge or reduced to forty cents per meal.
photos by Melissa Ryder