Recently, the convenience of the USC (University of Southern California) dining halls has become an inconvenience. New dining hall rules state that nothing can leave the dining hall except an apple or an ice cream cone. The days of take out coffee and sandwiches at Parkside and EVK are over.

Not only have our late-night 12-dollar study snacks disappeared, but now our dignity is also threatened. We have suddenly become criminals if we dare take two pieces of fruit, or, God forbid, some cereal. The hospitality staff threatens to brand us as thieves if they catch us in the act. Somewhere inside the kitchen, there is probably a wanted board filled with the faces of desperate students.

Melodrama aside, the ridiculousness of this situation rests on no solid ground. If you live in a residential college on campus, you are required to have a meal plan. This meal plan is paid per semester, not per meal; therefore, we are all collective owners of all the food offered by USC Hospitality.

Let's take back our lunch hour and late-night coffee runs. USC students: let's unite to fight this absurdity!

Reach Contributor Alexis Miller here.

                                                                                                                              "Student Wanted: Stole Paid Food."

Reach Opinion Artist Hannah Luk here.