Neighborhood Walmart, on Smoky Hill and Buckley, has developed a backpack policy  to prevent theft. Students are expected to put their backpacks at the front desk, or leave them outside.

“The rules are directed to anyone with a backpack. You can put your bags down by the service desk but the sign does say outside the door,” Store manager Donna said.

If anything is misplaced or stolen out of your backpack, Walmart will not be responsible for any missing items

“If it’s at the service desk, it’s under a camera,” Donna said.

The sign says, “To prevent theft, all backpacks must be left; don’t take the risk”. While all backpacks are being left at the front, all purses and tote bags are being held on shoulders throughout the store.

“I don’t think it’s fair that I have to put my stuff down because of other people’s actions. I have walked into Walmart and have seen adults with backpacks plenty of times,” sophomore Armani  Richardson said.

Most students carry their personal belongings inside their backpacks such as: wallets, money, keys, cosmetic belongings, etc which is almost everything inside of a purse or a satchel.

“Walmart is being hypocritical. We are being held responsible for those who steal but they aren’t responsible if someone steals from our bags while it’s in their store,” freshman Makayla Scott said.

Discrimination is judging someone based off something they can’t control. Students at Smoky Hill can’t control their age, and Walmart only making teenagers put their bags down would be considered discrimination by that definition.

“I understand why the policy exists, they are saying all backpacks,and I only see teenagers put their bags down,” junior Deon Williams.