GETTING THE INCENTIVES RIGHT. Over the homecoming weekend, three Northern Illinois students were beaten up over a pizza.

The three students, who were required to go outside to pick up a pizza due to Homecoming regulations, were on their way to the residence hall when a car carrying at least four individuals pulled up beside them. The individuals approached and confronted the three students.

They had to go outside to meet the delivery van for their own good.

The incident also came in the wake of regulations enforced at Stevenson Towers over the weekend. Students could not have food delivered to the inner entrance and were also required to carry passes if they wished to move from one side of the building to the other.

These rules were aimed at "maintaining a safe and secure environment, particularly during times with many visitors on campus," said Kelly Wesener, executive director of Housing and Dining. "Due to the increased number of guests on our campus for Homecoming, we want to be certain that those who are not residents or registered guests are unable to access our buildings."

Wesener declined to further comment on why students could not have food delivered to them inside the building.

The article notes that strong-arm robberies are rare events on campus, which makes it newsworthy. That campus policies have unanticipated and unintended consequences is a less rare event, which does not mean less newsworthy.