Sitting in geometry class, senior Marco Rodriguez looks around cautiously, making sure no teachers are watching and asks his friends if they’re hungry. They jump at the thought of filling their empty stomachs and quickly ask Rodriguez what he has. He busts out a backpack pouring over with a variety of candies, drinks, and bags of chips. Six students all whip out their wallets and quickly withdrawal as much money needed to end their hunger pains.
At first glance, Har-Ber seems to be a prestigious school filled with only the most elite students who abide by the policies set forth by the administration. However, with a closer look you will find there is a world of unauthorized solicitation, involving certain students who shall not be named.
“The only selling of anything on campus has to be in a group or organization and approved by Dr. Brackett,” says senior principal Mrs. Tisher. However, students are bringing a variety of foods in their backpacks and soliciting them to other students during class. Despite these actions breaking the aforementioned policy two students continue to sell independently.
One sophomore has decided to take candy sales into his own hands, by bringing up to forty packs of candy a day and distributing them to his fellow classmates. After about a month of selling his prohibited sweet treats he has accumulated over one hundred and fifty dollars in profits.
“I make about forty dollars a week, selling about twenty five things a day,” said sophomore Adam*.
The encouragement to sell came from his brother who had peddled similar sweets throughout his whole high school career. Candy isn’t the only thing being sold behind the scenes. Another sophomore has decided to purchase doughnuts and sell them to his fellow teammates after football practice.
“I buy a dozen doughnuts in the morning and sell them for a dollar each, or three doughnuts for two dollars,” said sophomore Joe*. His inspiration for selling glazed treats is his lack of a job and absence of money in his wallet.
Retired food salesman, Senior Marco Rodriguez said, “I made about three hundred and fifty dollars from selling food for three months!”
On top of all the money coming in from food sales, the risks of getting caught are particularly high also.
“They only took my ID, they never gave it back though,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez got caught selling a variety of foods straight out of his backpack last year. Despite the administration catching him, Rodriguez showed no remorse and continued to sell just as he did before. The administration said nothing to him after their first encounter.
“I got caught a couple weeks into it, but I continued to sell after they took my ID,” said Rodriguez.
Sophomore Adam* has yet to be apprehended for his crimes. This candy caper sells his products during most of his classes, and even with the threat of getting caught and suspended looming over his shoulder at every candy transaction, Adam* says that he does not care.
Adam* shows no sign of stopping his candy transactions anytime soon. He seems to have no fear of the consequences he faces for the unauthorized selling of candy.
“I know that I can get suspended, but I’m not really afraid,” said sophomore Adam*, “I don’t think they would actually suspend me the first time I get caught.”
