Crime and punishment

After three years of near anarchy, the powers-at-be are cracking down on food theft in the Lavin-Bernick Center’s cafeteria. We understand changes to the LBC’s theft policy were needed, but what Director of Student Conduct Kristen Kawczynski has requested is over the line. Stealing a $1.25 bag of chips or $3 box of fried rice is certainly something wrong, yet the administration (and some student government members), in their quest for ‘justice,’ failed to adequately find a punishment that fit the crime.

Tulane’s disciplinarians are overstepping their boundaries by merging aspects of “Student Life” and “a student’s life” that should be kept separate. First, students should not be put on probation for stealing a soft taco, especially when this probation bars them from participating in student organizations and studying abroad. Second, the disciplinarians should also realize that it is their laziness and refusal to act on the problem earlier, not the general malfeasance of us troglodytes, that created this mess. Though we do not support thievery, one mistake shouldn’t cost students opportunities meant to shape the rest of their lives.

If Kristen Kawczynski’s request were granted, student conduct boards would be required to issue a minimum of one semester’s “disciplinary probation.” Under disciplinary probation, students are barred from joining Greek life, holding offices in student organizations and studying abroad. Kawczynski also notes “…other restrictions might apply.”

The Hullabaloo agrees the theft problem needs to be solved, but we also recognize that if the previous punishment of getting your name put on a meaningless list was changed sooner, the problem wouldn’t be as bad as it is presently. Right now, it doesn’t seem right to pull a sudden 180o on the situation and issue disciplinary probations left and right, especially since most students will be unaware of the changes until they’re sitting across from the conduct board.

Here’s an easy solution: Slap offenders with a $150 fine, and give the money to the LBC so they don’t have to raise prices.