Approximately eight students who have been referred to the Office of Student Development and Conduct for stealing items from the Provisions on Demand Market as of Jan. 28 will face sanctions that may include restrictions from the store for an extended period of time, suspensions from campus buildings or parent notification, according to Director of Student Development and Conduct Erika Lamarre. The significant number of thefts that took place last week has caused Aramark to become concerned, Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan said, adding that students were caught stealing products such as sushi and bottled water. Director of Dining Services Mike Newmark and Director of Operations Aaron Bennos did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Callahan explained that students were caught because "management sees [students] putting [items] in their pockets" and because the P.O.D. Market has security cameras.

Although students could be arrested for shoplifting, Aramark follows judicial referrals through the Department of Student Life, Callahan said.

"The [student] conduct process is the same for each type of violation that is reported," Lamarre said. "The sanctions vary, but they're relatively consistent when we're talking about theft violations," she added.

Lamarre explained that students are notified when documented at the time of the incident and are then sent e-mails asking them to come to the office. "I allow students to read the report [filed on them and] I let them tell me whatever information I need in order to make some decisions on how to proceed, and then students are given the decision on how we're going to put closure on the [incident]," she said.

The sanction implemented for any given judicial offense is based on the student's behavior during the incident, the student's past conduct history and the nature of the incident, Lamarre explained.

In the past, students who have been caught shoplifting have been restricted from entering the store and parents have also been notified, according to Lamarre. However, she said that in her more than three years as director, no student has been suspended from entering certain campus buildings or the University itself for theft violations.

Lamarre said that students who are banned from the store for a limited period will be monitored by the P.O.D. Market staff through observation in order to ensure that they cannot enter the store. "Using credit cards, your ID or swiping your card would also be an indicator.