As resources get stretched, LB copes with thefts

 As resources get stretched, LB copes with thefts 

Students everywhere are trying to make ends meet. Between paying rent, car payments, and classes, it can be hard to find leftover money for meals.

It turns out, that some students are taking a little extra from Linn-Benton, perhaps thinking they deserve it through all the money they have already paid the school through their tuition and fees. As the campus is running out of food supplies for students facing hunger, the cafe struggles to keep watch on missing condiments and orders.

“It’s not stealing if it’s there for people to take. I’m paying the school and there are all these hidden bills, so I feel I paid for the products that are provided,” said a student who asked to remain anonymous while justifying stealing from campus. 

Linn-Benton staff, however, have another view about stealing on campus.

Jesse Jones, manager at the Courtyard Cafe, said, “Condiments seem to be the biggest issue. That station used to be over by the front door so it was harder to keep an eye on. Now that we have moved it closer to the line we are able to watch guests closer and make sure people aren’t overtaking items."

“Soda is another one. People will use a water cup and fill it with soda. It’s hard to see what people are getting when they are standing in front of the sodas. They can position their body to where we can’t see what they are getting.” 

While students may think that it’s just some condiments and there's no harm in taking a few, they fail to realize it is not the condiments alone people are taking. The more food and product taken can lead to higher prices for the rest of the students and staff.

More serious, cafe staff have seen food orders just disappear. 

Theo Warren, assistant manager at the cafe, said, “The inconvenience when someone steals is making another order when the cafe is in a dead rush. Another inconvenience would be that each item is accounted for and that would lower the profit margin, which in return would raise the cost per item for the customer.”  

 

If you’ve ordered at the Courtyard Cafe more recently you’ll see a sign at the front to remind you to keep your receipt and to show it when your number is called. Some customers are annoyed by the added task, and are even offended thinking the cafe is accusing them of trying to steal.

 

“Checking customers’ receipts is the best way to prevent people from taking other customers' orders,” said Warren.

   

The college’s security staff also plays a big role on campus, much of it behind the scenes. 

Logan Helm-Williams, a security officer at Linn-Benton, said, “I feel like we always keep an eye out for stealing. We try to watch people and see what their behavior is. If they are floating around and hovering near areas where they shouldn’t be … and we review camera footage quite often, too.”

The consequences of stealing on campus are no different from any other. If caught the punishment could range from getting banned from parts of the campus or even getting law enforcement involved.

  

The school encourages students to apply for scholarships and financial aid to help out with money problems and the stress of payment deadlines.

“I have heard of these resources,” said Jones.  “I think they are helpful but not a lot of students know about those resources. I feel like the college could advertise them more and actually make that information more accessible. I feel like if someone needed that help they wouldn’t know where to go or who to talk to.”

If students go to "resources” on the Linn-Benton page they’ll see links to the closest food bank and where to apply for food, health care, and childcare. Linn-Benton Lunch Box was a big help to many students but as of Jan. 10, it became unavailable until the next school year due to the requests exceeding the budget of $35,000.

Affordability Resources Coordinator Faren Leader said, "There are so many students in need of food help this year, and word spread about the availability of the gift cards, that we used up the entire budget for the school year in the fall term and the first two weeks of winter term."