Ethical Question

A couple buddies and I had this debate the other night. Our school charges us $50 per mealplan for "lost products".

Option 1: One person argued that "Since the school charges us $50 extra per mealplan, I have the right to take $50 worth of silverware, food, etc."

Option 2: Another argued that if you do steal $50 worth of stuff, that charge will keep going up.

What is your take?

 

Well doesnt the meal plan cover just the food? I never went to a big college so never had to deal with this.

 

Is it right to take from the church offering? (Different subject, I know).
It's good karma to be honest and take what you pay for.

 

X2 gonna say either way no

 

I'm sure that fee wasn't always there, but was implemented because so much stuff was walking out the door. If it keeps going out the door, the fee will be increased for sure. It sucks having to pay that fee, but you'd all be making things worse for yourselves if you felt entitled to your $50 worth of plates, condiments etc.

 

But is that paying for it or no?

The meal plan is a huge charge that covers a ton of things

 

Usually the dining part of a school has different funding and budget than the classes and instructors and such. So, the dining hall needs to make some what of a profit to pay the cooks and buy supplies. If you STEAL silverware and try to get what you think is 50 bucks worth, the school cafeteria wont make money and they will increase the price. Schools are usually very reasonable with the meal plans and im sure the 50 is calculated very closely to cover all expenses they may incur but once you steal it will cut into their budget and they will be forced to charge extra.

 

If the cost is built into the plan in order to replace silverware and cups and trays, isn't that the same as buying those items? The way I see it is, you're never going to see that $50 even if nobody in the whole school never takes anything. You may as well take your $50 worth of utensils. They're technichally yours afterall.

 

but out of (say for ex. 1000 studen)t they calculate maybe 5 or 6 low lifes will steal silverware or trays and maybe a few get broken. But when more people are dishonest and take things the cost starts to go up so what they calculated isnt right anymore and they have to increase it.

 

That was basically his arguemnt. Majority of people won't take stuff, so he wants his full moneys worth since he already paid for it.

However Judical affairs does not quite see it that way...

 

But then you graduate and don't have to pay the fees anymore, and you have a running start on silverware in your apartment or home. I'm pretty sure college tries to not only instill book-knowledge in students, but also practical knowledge.

 

Say i go to a restaurant and buy a nice meal. Im entitled to the food and drink thats it. I dont steal the silverware or wineglasses. If everyone did that the cost of dinner would sky-rocket.

 

Either way, if you feel like its yours too take they are just gonna raise the prices

 

What the hell is "Judical Affairs"?

 

But then when they can no longer afford to go out, they'd have plenty of stemware and plates and forks to enjoy casual meals at home.

 

Just because you think your entitled doesnt mean you are entitled. Bottom line its wrong and its probably why the school i went to went to disposables. To many scumbags taking shit. Go to Walmart or an oneida outlet and buy your silverware like everyone else.

 

LOL like that will ever happen. They stopped giving us trays in the dining hall because it wasn't eco friendly to use water to clean them

 

Well when i went to school i went for a good major so when i graduated i wouldnt need stolen silverware and cafe trays i could get a good job and buy nice things. Any way you slice this topic, the school shouldnt have to budget for stolen goods. But it just takes a few to ruin it for everyone else, then they raise the prices.

 

X2. That's kind of the point I was trying to make, couldn't find the words.

 

I meant buy your own silverware for home use. And my school kept "running out of trays" even though they always had new ones