Dining Hall Pilfering Will Take Big Bite Out of Food Budget

There will rabble to a 825.000 robbery at Harvard this year, still University officials say they knew who will commit the crime.

It this year it like next years, Harvard undergraduates will student more than $25,000 worth of kalves, forks, spoons and bowls from college dining halls, officials say.

But food service managers have said the heists are unavoidable, and figure the thefts into their annual budgets.

"We lose easily $10,000 worth of silver-ware every year," said Richard J. Montville, University Food Services Manager for five River Houses and Dudley House. "One year at Eliot House we found 20 bowls in one closed. Some still had salad in them."

In the Freshman Union, which serves 1,600 students, pilfering will probably cost $8,000 this year, according to Lewis J. Tolleson, the manager there. That amounts to $5 worth of loot per freshman.

Tolleson said that the stolen goods include plastic bowls and about 800 spoons, 500 knives and 400 forks. In the Houses, thefts also include glasses, which are not used in the Union, Tolleson said.

Officials said that while some equipment is replaced each year due to the wear and tear of daily use, most is simply stolen.

The cost of the items is passed directly to students in board charges since the food services are not subsidized by the University, Telleson said.

One freshman, who asked but to be identified, said to had filched a fork and spoon for his room. "I am paying $15,000 to come here." he said, adding. "I think I'm entitled to a spoon for my coffee."

Brian McDonald, assistant food services manager at Adams house, said that "if students brought [the silverware] bask, it would be no big deal. The worst thing is that they don't return it. Most ends up in the trash."

Tolleson agreed that the few stolen utensils were likely to reappear, adding that he knew of instances in which "the forks were twisted and used for artwork."

The Union takes an inventory of its silverware and bowls three times a year, Tolleson said. The next inventory will be taken at Christmas, and another right before next year's orders must be filed around Easter.

But officials say the situation is improving.

Signs

John DePetris, manager at Dunster House where stolen equipment losses run about $3,300, said people are taking less silverware, partly due to signs posted in the dining halls advising students to return missing or loose items.

"Back about 15 years ago we'd lose double [the current] amount," agreed Tolleson, who has been working the dining halls for 37 years.