The recently enacted food and drink ban in classrooms is an unfortunate and needlessly onerous inconvenience for Penn State students. Further, it is a prime example of the "right hand not knowing what the left is doing," as there is already an effective policy regarding food and drink. The Pattee/Paterno library has long banned food and drink, but with the qualification that beverages in "approved spill-resistant containers" are allowed. This policy has been effective in protecting university property without needlessly burdening students. I implore the administration to write such an exemption into the classroom policy, or failing that, come up with a good reason why this is unworkable.

As a student with early classes three days a week, an inability to indulge my "caffeine habit" could negatively affect my performance in these classes. Since it is impossible to ascertain the contents of an opaque drinking vessel, I believe my best course of action is to bring my morning fix to class and, to say it contains water (which it does, along with small amounts of other ingredients, so it's not a total lie).