Cafeteria Story

Australian universities, like most public and private institutions over the last few decades of Recession, have been plagued by decreasing funds in the face of increasing demands. This has led to "efficiency drives" which, being translated for the niave, means "save money by decreasing the staff, the time in which to do things, and the end quality of the goods delivered to the hapless consumer".

Arriving in the Melbourne University student cafeteria one day I saw the usual sign on the wall which proclaimed: "Patrons are reminded that gambling is not permitted on these premises". On the wall underneath was scrawled: "Eating Caff food excepted".