PEA Reopens Grill Despite Recent Thefts

After closing on Dec. 17 due to a rise in theft, the convenience store section in Grill reopened and resumed normal operations this Tuesday. Grill staff will compare the inventory with sales on a daily basis and may reclose the space if theft continues.

Interim Chief Financial Officer Marijka Beauchesne, Head of Campus Safety Paul Gravel, Interim Dean of Residential Life Carol Cahalane and Dean of Students Melissa Mischke restored Grill to its full capacity after receiving student input at a Deans’ Council meeting last Friday. Council members also suggested initiatives to prevent theft through discussions with students and a reinforcement of community values.

“The purpose of reopening Grill was to see if this period of closure would change the amount of stealing,” lower and Deans’ Council member Abby Asch said.

The group noted that although the individuals responsible for the thefts were of a small number, the combined losses were detrimental to Grill’s entire operation. They suggested that the few weeks of restricted access may have deterred students from stealing in the future. “The purpose of reopening Grill was to see if this period of closure would change the amount of stealing,” lower and Deans’ Council member Abby Asch said.

After the first closure of Grill, most employees were assigned to other projects such as working in the facilities department and dining halls, but their salaries have not currently changed. Upper and Deans’ Council member Ayush Noori stated that if the council must “shut [Grill] down for a second time, then it’s very possible that Grill staff hours and pay will be affected.” According to senior and student leader of the Deans’ Council Michaela Phan, the council is considering creating posters that describe Grill’s financial losses and inform students that theft “is serious and that it affects people.”

Several Deans’ Council members proposed the idea of installing security cameras similar to those added to the post office when several box doors disappeared in the previous school year. However, Phan noted that many “were hesitant to install security cameras because we didn’t want to create an atmosphere on campus of students being watched constantly.” She clarified that last year, cameras were installed in the mailroom because the damaging of P.O. boxes is a federal crime, whereas Grill thefts are not.

Noori expressed the council’s desire for a permanent, cultural change around stealing. “We didn’t want a bandaid because we felt things like security cameras or posters in Grill don’t insinuate a cultural shift,” he said. “The problem itself is a lack of respect for Grill.”

Asch agreed, adding that Council members noticed a “need to instill better morals in this community [...and have] more discussions based around them.” Those at the meeting emphasized the importance of student involvement in improving campus culture. The Council has proposed conversations with Grill employees and dorms, but has not reached a conclusive decision.

According to Director of Dining Services Melissa Leonard, no new measures will be implemented in the near future to prevent future theft. “We are tracking our inventory more closely against daily sales to check if the stealing is still happening,” she said. “The hope is that no measures are needed at this time.”