It’s a universal human experience — the fear of scrutiny. Everyone has been through TSA, forced to walk — humiliated and shoeless — down the line, subject to the scrutinizing gaze of many tired eyes and ever-vigilant cameras. I always feel a bit naked, on top of being tired and annoyed, when I’m forced to lay my possessions on the belt and be prepared to explain each one. I suppose I see the purpose, though. I understand that we, as newly minted citizens of the airport, should all be checked for safety — fair enough.
What I don’t understand is why I have the same feeling in the TSA as I do when I attempt to enter Stav hall. The tight, claustrophobic nature of the line and the constant staring, reminding, and reprimanding that the Bon App employees are forced to do at the check-in kiosk makes it clear— they have felony-grade concern for meal theft. Justice will be swift and painless for any unfortunate meal-goer who happens to run out of swipes. Don’t you dare try and sneak in— you heathen.
I don’t blame Stav workers. They’re likely just as annoyed at being forced to scrutinize us as we are at being scrutinized. The thing is, though, this upgrade in security makes me want to steal more. It’s painfully obvious that this change was put in place alongside the recent wage increases in the Caf, and the higher-ups blush a little bit at the thought of losing profits. So, with the now (almost) decent wages being paid, the caf desperately wants to avoid hemorrhaging money in other places. It’s a change that, to me, just looks like penny pinching— and there’s been enough of that in cuts to the food quality. I think it’s patronizing and annoying to force the Stav workers to become TSA workers, with us students as their subjects. Just relax and open up the second check-in line again, please.
Justin Vorndran is from Osceola, Wisc.
His major is English.
