Leadership from Calvin University and Creative Dining Services (CDS) issued a statement on Monday, Feb. 3 informing the campus community that the self-serve Knight Fuel Markets would be shut down on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The recent spate of thefts at the markets, according to the email statement, made the continued operation of the markets “unsustainable.” Calvin and CDS thanked students and staff who had “supported and respected the space and used it as intended,” and emphasized their commitment to “find creative ways to meet the dining needs of students, employees and campus visitors.”
Since Nov. 19, Campus Safety has disclosed over 20 instances of shoplifting from the three grab-and-go markets located around campus. A majority of these cases occurred in the Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex and the DeVos Communication Center. Signage posted at each market stated that the markets would be temporarily closed while CDS evaluated a variety of options. Later, a decision was made to shut down all operations on campus. The statement said that the decision to close was made to “ensure the responsible management of resources and the sustainability of campus services.”
Students — especially those with classes in the business building and the DeVos Communication Center — have lamented the closures. Josh Burr, a senior studying marketing and human resources management, called the thefts and subsequent closures “unfortunate,” emphasizing that CDS was left with few alternative options after the thefts. Jack Lanning, a senior studying marketing and supply chain management, noted that “it was good to have those stations up, especially to provide healthy snacks to people.”
Lanning also said that having the ability to access the markets was “a matter of convenience,” especially for students who might only have a short break between classes. Burr agreed, saying that “there really isn’t an alternative [food source] for the business building,” pointing out that the nearest current option for students in the business building (Johnny’s Cafe) is a several-minute walk away.
The events leading to the closure have prompted vexation among students who routinely used the micro-markets as intended. Lanning told Chimes that the general feeling among his friends and acquaintances is one of frustration. “The feeling is like, ‘what did I do? I didn’t do anything,’” said Lanning, who also said that people he knows are upset that “their convenience is now compromised by thefts they didn’t commit.”
Lanning and Burr both expressed their disappointment that options for students to get food on-campus are now more limited. Lanning further explained that he felt that fewer people would now spend their Knight Bucks and that off-campus students would be more inclined to pick up food from other sources on their way to campus. “If you have a quick break, you have ten, fifteen minutes, what are you going to do for lunch? You’re going to bring your own food,” Lanning said.
The email statement encouraged individuals who had committed thefts at the markets to contact CDS to submit payments for the stolen items, and noted that Campus Safety and the Office of Student Support, Accountability and Reconciliation are investigating the incidents. According to the statement, the investigations will “[determine] the accountability and discipline measures that will be taken in the coming weeks and months.”
