Some students recently were seen violating health code regulations in the caf.
Dustin Barlow, acting junior, was asked to leave the caf on Sept. 12 because he was barefoot, a breach of these regulations.
“You need to make sure you have shirts and shoes on because it’s a health code violation for us,” said Emily Anderson, director of dining services. “We could get in trouble for that, and we certainly don’t want that.”
Barlow was swiped into the caf as usual and sat down to eat when Anderson asked him to step outside the caf with her. Anderson then explained that shoes are required in the caf and asked Barlow to leave. Barlow said he understood. He was allowed to finish his food and then left the caf.
“I assumed that it wasn’t an issue because I was still swiped in at the register before entering,” he said. “If I was told I couldn’t come in because of shoes, I would’ve respected it. We have the no shoes, no shirt policy everywhere. I definitely will not walk in shirtless to the caf. Even if I want to, I won’t.”
Barlow said he was unaware he was breaking a rule, and he’s been walking around campus barefoot for a semester and a half.
“I always get looks and comments from everyone, dispersed among a variety of opinions, but I’ve always been swiped into the caf,” he said.
Barlow said he understands the policy and respects it.
Smoking on campus
Students also said they’ve seen their peers vaping in areas like the caf and The Market at Alvin’s.
Oaklin Davis, business graduate, said he has seen students vaping in both dining areas at different times.
“I can only speculate that they do it in many other places,” he said. “I just happen to frequent dining areas more than any place on campus, so that’s when I witness it.”
Vaping is included in the university’s tobacco policy and isn’t tolerated any more than tobacco, OCU Police Chief Jennifer Rodgers said.
“I think there’s a misunderstanding,” Rodgers said. “There’s not really an intent on the student to break any kind of rule, but we have not probably made it as clear as it needs to be.”
A tobacco policy violation is a $50 fine, which can be appealed. The violation also can be a matter of student conduct, meaning a student in violation would meet with Dr. Amy Ayres, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, and Lily Bermudez, associate dean of students, to decide if the student is a repeat offender and potential further punishment.
“Ultimately, could someone be expelled from school? Absolutely, if they have enough issues behind them, they could certainly be asked to leave,” Rodgers said.
Students can find the exact policy at okcu.edu/students/handbook/04-university-policies-procedures/w-tobacco-free-campus.
“They have to be more considerate of the people on campus,” Rodgers said. “That’s why the rules are there—to make sure that people can be on a campus that’s safe and is not imposing on anyone else.”
Reporting issues
Anderson said some of the most important things to remember in the caf are:
− wear shirts and shoes,
− no vaping/tobacco usage,
− no throwing food,
− no defacing of murals on the walls,
− don’t stand on chairs or tables,
− and report anything wrong that is seen.
“A lot of it is just for health codes and, you know, safety,” Anderson said. “Our safety for everyone is our No. 1 priority.”
If a student sees something inappropriate or wrong in the caf, they can report it to any caf or The Market at Alvin’s employee or to Anderson’s office next to the chef’s table in the caf.
“It’s being respectful of the space and respectful of others,” Anderson said. “I think that’s the biggest thing. And it goes back to, ‘if you see something, say something.’”
If students have questions about caf policies, they may email Anderson at emily.anderson4@compass-usa.com or use the Dine On Campus app and click “contact,” which goes directly to Anderson.
Rodgers said students can call OCUPD at 405-208-5001 or use the “Rave Guardian” app to anonymously report things they see, as well.
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