By Amanda Sergeyev
Two large zip lock bags of cereal were found at the front counter of the South Dinning Hall a few weeks ago.
The cereal bags illustrated how a student had interpreted the phrase “All you care to eat” as “consume
and store as much food as possible.” The incident of stealing cereal from the South Dining Hall shed light on a prisoner’s dilemma, concerning both the students and dining services.
A prisoner’s dilemma describes two different entities whose choices concurrently affect the outcome of a situation. A common example that is referred to is when two prisoners simultaneously decide whether or not to confess to a crime.
The prisoner’s dilemma concerning students and dining services refers back to the roots of a business.
Although we are paying customers putting forth a large amount of money to eat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, “All you care to eat,” we must consider the cost of food and the abuse of certain privileges given to us.
As the first State School to institute a 24/7 meal plan, we are the genuine pigs of an “experiment” to see what policies are cost efficient and also convenient to the student population.
It would be great if we had the ability to take as much food out of the dining halls as we please, but that would effect dining services, the food left for other students and the cost of the meal plan in the future.
The idea that every action has a reaction rings true in this situation because both our actions and the decisions made by dining services will effect one another in the future, whether it be monetarily, the policies set forth or the meal plan options available.
