Now that The Commons requires students to purchase their food before getting it, stealing has stopped almost entirely
Commons worker Gwen Johnson stamps a student’s receipt before serving breakfast. Since The Commons started making sure students pay, they are saving about $5,000 a week. (Stephanie Matusiefsky | THE BEACON)
By Kelsey Thomas, Staff Writer thomask15@up.edu
Six months ago, a Commons burrito bowl or burger making its way into the mouth of a hungry student without ever being purchased was commonplace.
However, since Bon AppОtit began requiring students to turn in their receipt as proof of payment before receiving their meal, virtually all stealing in The Commons has ceased and Bon AppОtit Director Kirk Mustain said they are saving $5,000 dollars a week.
Mustain said he is pleased at the stamped receipts' effectiveness. They will be a permanent feature in The Commons. Mustain said occasionally some smaller items are still swiped, but rarely full meals.
"There's still some small petty stuff going on but it's not as rampant as it was for sure," Mustain said. "I think the patterns have changed."
Mustain said that receiving full payment in The Commons has allowed them to not raise prices in over a year despite rising food prices nationally. He also said it allows the staff to put money back into the food and try some different menu options.
"When we're not watching [the food] walk out the door, we've been able to spend more time on it," Mustain said.
This year, stuffed pizza and calzones were added to The Commons menu. The global and carve stations have also been offering new dishes.
The stamped-receipt measure also saves Mustain, Commons staff and Public Safety from having to watch for students who get their food and then head in the opposite direction of the registers.
"I don't want to be the food police and figure out who paid for it and who didn't," Mustain said. "I want to go make great food."
Mustain said he arrived at the figure of $5,000 by comparing sales and amount of food brought in to previous statistics. According to Mustain, since requiring students to have their receipt stamped, Bon AppОtit's sales have remained consistent but they are bringing in $5,000 less food to prepare and sell.
Although Bon AppОtit now receives full payment for food, silverware and dishes are still finding their way into students' bags at the dish drop. Mustain said he spends $20,000 a year on dishes and silverware.
"It's the whole 'I just took one' thing," Mustain said. "Yeah, you and 1,800 other people. All of the sudden 2,000 forks are out the door."
In spite of the runaway forks, Mustain said he hopes to conserve Bon AppОtit's resources and hopefully not increase prices.
So far, students like the results of less stealing, as The Commons has even more options.
"I really like that global is always different," freshman Jill Maples said. "I feel like [The commons] always has a lot of different options available."
Also, students hope the reduced stealing helps to keep prices where they are.
"I certainly hope prices don't go up," freshman Matthew Horton said, contentedly consuming a burger and fries, paid for in full.
