Are Co-opers Stealing?

To the Editors:

Recently it has been stated by the Campus Dining Service that they are losing approximately $35,000 a year due to stolen diningware. My impression is that a significant portion, if not the large majority, of these items are taken by members of co-ops for use in the co-ops. I would argue that this is, in effect, stealing from students. Our meal plans are more expensive and provide less benefits than they have in the past, at least partly because of the large cost of replacing stolen diningware. I think these actions of co-op members do not coincide with the mission of co-ops to be self-sustaining and egalitarian. That CDS is of a more capitalist nature than co-ops does not justify taking its property, as this is still stealing from other people, either from a corporation or indirectly from students. If one doesn’t like CDS one doesn’t have to eat there, but one shouldn’t steal from us.
I don’t mean to create hostilities by writing this, and I hope no angry results. But I would ask that co-opers take a second look at their policy of taking diningware from CDS and instead focus on buying what they need with OSCA’s collective resources, as the co-op mission dictates.

–Chris Holbein
College Senior