Tasty turkey at the Turkey Feast, gratifying gelato during International Week, scrumptious sausages at Oktoberfest and those oh-so-coveted crêpes at Crêpe Fest—are you salivating yet? One generalization that can be made about the Gunn population is that we are a bunch of foodies. Remember spring 2007? A student yelled, “Ice cream truck!” and pointed to the gym. A mob followed and ran—yes, ran—towards the area in search of the truck. Considering this enormous demand, students should be able to sell more food on their own.

According to the Associated Student Body (ASB) Accounting Manual, the food sale laws are intended to help the food service remain financially sound. One law limits the number of “free-for-all” food sale days during lunch to four per year, in which all student organizations can sell food. During these days, if fewer students buy lunch from the food service, it loses money if it prepares the same amount of food as on a regular day. To reduce losses, the Student Executive Council (SEC) tells food service about food sales ahead of time so that it can plan accordingly.

Events such as Oktoberfest have proven that students clearly prefer what food clubs sell over the lunch line. With this fact in mind, laws should allow for more student food sales. The food service would then take on a smaller role in providing food, but would still exist for any mishaps that may occur with student food sales. The ASB manual states that food sold by student organizations must meet health requirements and cannot be prepared on campus. These regulations are well-intended but not well-thought out. The calorie limit is unrealistic because students could easily buy more than one entrée.

Furthermore, food service sales have decreased since the implementation of these rules. Cup of Noodles and hot chocolate, which once raked in profits for food service, were banned as a result of these laws. The regulations are intended to help the food service, but in reality they hurt its business and cause lay-offs.The underlying reason why students cannot prepare food on campus is to meet California State Health Code Regulations and avoid potential lawsuits for food poisoning. At Gunn, this regulation resulted in the removal of the microwave in the Students Activity Center because using a microwave is supposedly “cooking” without following the State Health Code. The Foods class makes food all the time—and those students aren’t vomiting or getting abdominal pains incessantly, so what’s the fuss about? In the end, it all comes down to money. Lawsuits are costly and food service doesn’t want to lose money. If the government truly cared about students’ health, it should focus on teaching students how to eat healthy, instead of confining student food sales with a laundry list of regulations.

Nonetheless, having a nice meal isn’t impossible. Have no fear: go off-campus and you’ll be clear. The laws apply only to sales on campus and during school hours. Selling food off school grounds is theoretically perfectly legal. However, there were fervent debates about selling “unhealthy” foods near campus, like the “Los Altos High School Taco Truck” incident. Selling food 30 minutes before school started or after school ends, also legal, works out well for most clubs. In addition, one club may sell up to three food items per day during lunch—although three different flavors of ice cream counts as three items. With this One-Club-Per-Day rule, one club could sell food each day, giving students an alternative besides the banal lunch line.

Beautiful things happen when clubs sell food on campus. The school becomes more unified, clubs can fundraise and students get to enjoy some good food. The crippling food regulations limit club food sales during lunch and should be loosened or thought over again. In the meantime, each club should exercise its right to sell food during lunch. While playing by the rules, students can still have food done their way—but don’t get crazy.