Rise In Thefts Closes Grill Indefinitely

Grill has been closed indefinitely since Dec. 17 as an additional measure in response to the increase in Grill thefts, following the initial removal of hi-chews and dove milk chocolate bars. Meanwhile, these developments have raised questions around stealing culture on campus and possible solutions.  

“It is a branch of the Academy’s Dining Services department,” Jeffco said. “Any revenue from Grill is used to support dining services.”

Grill Manager Scott Jeffco

Dean of Students Melissa Mischke, Head of Campus Safety Paul Gravel, and Interim Chief Financial Officer Marijka Beauchesne will hold a meeting on Fri, Jan. 11 with the Dean’s Council to discuss next steps for Grill. 

Grill Manager Scott Jeffco said that the administration, not the Grill staff, made the decision to close the store. He clarified that Grill is not an independent business, and that its purpose is to serve the Exeter community. “It is a branch of the Academy’s Dining Services department,” Jeffco said. “Any revenue from Grill is used to support dining services.” According to multiple workers at Dining Halls, some Grill staff members have been relocated to Elm Street Dining Hall. 

According to Beauchesne, following the announcement that hi-chews and dove bars were stolen and therefore removed from shelves, the overall volume of thefts actually increased. [quote about how it’s disappointing] This led the administration to decide that shutting down Grill was necessary, although not ideal. 

Some considered the shutdown an unfair response since it inconvenienced students that had not committed any of the Grill thefts. 

However, senior Abby Zhang considered the shutdown an appropriate response to such dishonesty. She felt that Grill is a privilege rather than a necessity, and that the school has the right to revoke this when students breach trust. “I think the fact that this issue has gotten so out of hand just shows that maybe we deserve to have this privilege revoked for just a little bit,” Zhang said.

Some community members proposed that installing security cameras would have been a more effective and reasonable solution to the thefts. Head of Campus Safety Paul Gravel said he held a conversation with the Grill management regarding additional security measures, but did not mention any specifics. 

Upper Paula Perez-Glassner reasoned that increased surveillance would have a fairer alternative. “Surveillance would be a better option rather than shutting it down because that would put pressure on the kids who are stealing and not take away from the kids who aren’t,” she said.

As opposed to implementing this solution, Assistant Principal Karen Lassey emphasized her preference for constructive campus-wide discussions about Exeter’s values and theft. “Maybe we’ll get to a point where we have to [install cameras] but that would be really sad if we couldn’t address this in a more constructive, affirming way,” she said.

[beau said something similar to lassey]

Arlo*, a senior who said he had stolen repeatedly from Grill in the past, explained that he had committed theft for the convenience and financial savings. “At first, I was spending hundreds of dollars at Grill and I got into the habit of stealing because I didn’t want to pay so much anymore,” he said. “Also, the lines were always so long.”

Dean of Residential Life Carol Cahalane criticized such excuses for Grill thefts and affirmed that students should obey the rules. “I think we are all tempted to take shortcuts in life when we are feeling pressured but at those times, we have to hold ourselves to the best standards because that is when we show our true character.”

Meanwhile, senior Gabby Allen thought that some students stole for the thrill of rule-breaking without serious consequences. “I think it’s simply that kids like being aggressive and rebellious,” she said. “Especially at Exeter where there are a lot of rules but it is harder to break a lot of rules than at home, it gives a lot of kids this sense of rebellion they might not otherwise get.”

Senior Francesco Mondini said that the culture around stealing on campus may reflect general resent against the administration. “[Stealing] might also be a sign of rebellion against an administration that many feel leaves out its students in the important decision-making,” he said. “Personally, I haven’t been here long enough to form an opinion I can back, but I  know for a fact that others will agree with this.”

Lower Sofina Tillman added that the previous thefts of P.O. box doors and campus signs may reflect such anti-administration sentiments. “The one thing in common between all three of these instances is that every time, the administration told us very clearly that they didn’t want us to do it,” she said. “The general feeling I have found the student body has towards the administration is that when the administration tells us we can’t do something, we’ll take it as a challenge.”