The Colonel is starting a new category where we will showcase an article from our newsmagazine’s print days every month. This October, we have chosen an editorial titled “One buck for what?” from Oct. 7, 1981. 

From the Editor’s Desk

One buck for what?

So Ronnie’s at it again. But this time, he has really hit home. Who in his right mind would even consider purchasing a cafeteria lunch at the astronomical price of $1.00?

One buck for what?

A “hamburg patty” which resembles and tastes like a Michelin tire, 512stale discolored potato chips, green (that’s the color they make your face if you dare eat them) beans, which 99 percent of the time end up in the circular file, and a .15 cents milk. Fifteen cents for a 12pint of milk! What a head rush for incoming freshmen, just off a 7 cent milk price down the road off Route 214.

Let’s face it. That’s five bucks a week, considering if you decide (God forbid) to eat the meal every day, or $180 dollars for the school year, up $34 from last year.

But why? Well, Congress has cut about $1.5 billion free and reduced lunch program. This has forced schools, like LHS, to escalate prices or slim down on portions. As of yet, LHS has increased its lunch prices but the portions have stayed the same for now. The Department of Agriculture has decided to help cafeterias around the nation by allowing schools to consider ketchup and relish as vegetables.

We haven’t felt the worst yet though. School lunch programs are only part of Reagan’s budget cut plans. And, as usual, the poor and underprevileged [sic] will only be hurt more. So you had better get used to it – soon, for that dollar, you may not get vegetables, but a packet of ketchup (99 percent sugar). And your 8 ounce milk will soon become only 6 ounces for 15 cents. And who knows, you may end up paying $1.50 for a lunch next year.