When the opportunity to grab free cans of soda pop suddenly arose Monday, a number of students took advantage of the windfall, even though it was stealing. Was this just a minor transgression, or does it say something more significant about ethics at Uni?

By Lizzy Warner

Gargoyle staff reporter

Posted Wednesday, April 4, 2007, The OG, news

ON MONDAY, WORD was spreading fast among students regarding free soda — and who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to save a whole 50 cents?

What students disregarded, according to Assistant Director Sue Kovacs, was that by taking a can of pop they were stealing. Enough students availed themselves of the opportunity that the question arises: Was this just a minor incident, or did it reflect something more significant about the ethics of Uni students?

At 8 a.m. Monday, the administration became aware that the Coke machine in the kitchen was left unlocked and that students were able to open the machine, reach in, and take as many cans as they wanted.

When someone had come from Coca-Cola to restock the machines earlier in the morning, they had accidentally forgotten to relock the machine, Kovacs said, and there was no way anyone from the school could lock it themselves.

No one from the company would be available to come to Uni and relock the machine until 2 p.m., so instead a sign was printed stating that taking a Coke was in direct violation of the student honor code: It was stealing.

The honor code says that “a Uni student is accountable for his or her action and is expected to do the right thing,” and that “as honest individuals, Uni members must hold themselves to the highest standards of integrity.”

All students were required to sign their names at the beginning of the school year agreeing to follow those standards. But even if students had forgotten the specifics of the code, the sign telling students that they were stealing if they took a can of pop was still there even after the machine had been relocked, Kovacs said. This meant that students were blatantly going against the rules.

“I would like to trust everyone impeccably, but there's always peer pressure,” added Kovacs. “I think kids who are becoming adults just have to live with their own conscience.”

Kovacs said the school is not sure exactly how many cans were taken, but any money lost would have gone toward the athletic department.

As for now, she said, some students have come forward saying they saw others stealing sodas; one student claimed seeing five peers stealing during one period.

Not many names have been revealed, but there won't be too harsh a punishment for those who come forth. Students who took a soda are being asked to simply pay 50 cents to the office for each drink they took.

Kovacs said she believes this incident is not necessarily a reflection on the morals or ethics of Uni students, but instead just a reflection on the mentality of society in general (“Oh! I can get away with this!”).

“We put a lot of trust in you all,” she said. “It's just better to do the right thing.”

RELATED

— Complete text: Uni High Honor Code

— Student discipline update: Draft of honor council policy completed