The doors between the cafeteria and the Wildcat Café have been locked permanently to prevent students’ misuse of them.

“When your trust has been violated enough, you start to realize that there is no other way to deal with the problem,” Director of Food Service Darrell Bowersox said.

After years of alleged dishonesty between the students and the food service staff, the staff has decided that this is for the better.

Catering Coordinator Tanya Sieber said the problem arose because people were using the doors to get into the cafeteria from the café without going to the cafeteria register to pay for their meal.

Due to the lack of security and failure to monitor the café doors at all times, the decision was made to lock the doors in order to keep people from getting into the cafeteria and helping themselves to free meals.

Sieber said when someone uses the door to sneak into the cafeteria to eat, it is as if the students are paying for that individual’s meal because everyone pays for meals collectively. Sieber said it’s been a regular occurrence for the past three years.

“It is very unfortunate for our staff and for the honest students who have been using the door, but it is necessary to stop the people who do not have a meal plan,” she said. “It is not fair to the honest people who actually pay for their meal.”

Dean of Students Cassy Bailey said this situation is not only unfortunate for the staff and the students, but is very unfortunate for the patrons as well. Some of these people put money toward Baker and the food services and to see others misusing the door and the services of the cafeteria is almost like watching them take the money right out of those people’s pockets.

“By misusing the door to get into the cafeteria, students are violating at least three or four of the rules of conduct explicitly stated in the Baker handbook,” Bailey said.

Bailey said students suspected of stealing were sent warnings to make them aware the university is conscious of their behavior and give them a chance to defend themselves, but no one has been brought up on charges.

She said it has been such a common occurrence it is hard to punish a few when many are guilty of doing the same thing.

Freshman Danny Apgar said he doesn’t like the idea of having the doors locked, and is surprised students were able to sneak in.

However, Apgar is glad a solution has been found to solve the issue.

Freshman Luke Weaver is glad it’s more difficult for students to sneak into the cafeteria, but thinks it will be inconvenient to have the doors locked.

“I liked when I could get through the door to class, but I can see locking the door to keep others out,” he said.