Student learns "unlimited" meal plan is actually limited

It’s not a secret: Students take food to-go from the dining halls.

This past week, first-year Chuka Akpom had a taste of Twitter fame after he was caught trying to take a quart of milk from Rams Head Dining Hall on Sept. 28.

One of the dining hall workers really said I couldnt fill up my individual quart of milk

— Chuka Akpom (@Choo_Kah) September 28, 2016

First-year sociology and Spanish major Amanda Maxson said she was on Akpom's side.

“I have an unlimited plan, so basically my plan is for unlimited amount of food,” Maxson said. “Because of the amount of money we spend on the dining hall services, like, you can get some milk.” 

Even though unlimited meal plans allow students to swipe in every fifteen minutes, there are also times when paying the $2,175 Carolina Dining Services meal plan fee doesn’t entirely feel “unlimited.” 

We are paying 1-3,000 for a meal plan and theyre trying to tell me I cant take milk that my money is paying for

— Chuka Akpom (@Choo_Kah) September 28, 2016

First-year Nate Polo, a political science and peace, war and defense double major, said, “I need to be (outside) also, but if I could, I would be here eating literally all the time.” 

Unlimited meal plan or not, students have found ways to bring the dining hall experience home with them.

Someone tell me what I'm supposed to do with this table spoon of milk pic.twitter.com/clfPfYBor2

— Chuka Akpom (@Choo_Kah) September 28, 2016

“My friends last year stole a napkin dispenser, silverware and there’s the classic put-cereal-in-the-coffee-cup (technique),” said first-year exercise and sports science major Darrell Woodard. 

The incident from this past Wednesday led students to reflect on what exactly is “too much” to be taking from the dining hall.

Junior English major Anna Shelton saw her friend Mashallah Salaam, a junior communications major, get in trouble for less than what Akpom attempted to take this past week. 

“She got in trouble one time for taking, like, two cookies,” Shelton said.

However, Maxson has heard of students getting away with taking more.

“I heard a story that one of my friends stole one of the cakes, like right when they put it out, and then walked away with the cake, and no one stopped her,” Maxson said.

Despite the discrepancies in dining hall rules, students will find a way to have their cake, or milk, and eat it too. 

@karynhbrown

swerve@dailytarheel.com