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"People usually stop by and donate, but not like this. This is amazing!" remarked David Martin, a representative from the Connecticut Food Drive.

Neither of the Weshop managers had seen anything like Gottlieb’s buyout before, and were confused at first how to react.

"At first they gave me an attitude, complaining that I was taking all of their food," explained Gottlieb. "But they reconsidered and kindly offered their assistance."

"I felt like I was in the supermarket sweep, throwing bags of groceries on the register as fast as I could," Gottlieb added. 

Fortunately, she brought four of her friends along to help ransack the isles. Forty-five exhilarating minutes later, boxes of groceries were placed in a truck. Next stop: The Connecticut Food Bank. The shoppers’ 28 point-per-minute pace left the non-perishables isle looking like Swiss cheese.

Gottlieb initially became infuriated when the Wesleyan administration refused to let her decline the meal plan, even in the face of dietary restrictions. She is a vegetarian and keeps strictly kosher. According to Gottlieb, this means she can eat only about one quarter of the food provided on campus.

She petitioned Dean Whaley, and even presented a note from a nutritionist explaining her special circumstances. Regardless of the situation, Gottlieb was forced to pay for food she
would not eat because the Administration claimed to be unable to bend the rules.

"I am amazed that a private institution like Wesleyan can still stand outside of common morals and sense" Gottlieb said.

She said the savings from the meal plan would have alleviated the financial burden on her parents, who are buying a new house and sending her brother to college.

"I wanted to lash back at the Administration in a positive way to show them what they were doing was wrong," Gottlieb explained.

Her first idea involved treating a busload of homeless people to a Mocon meal, but she realized that might cause logistical problems. She also considered stacking the food in North College, but she did not want to clash directly with the Administration. Her final decision was to take Weshop by storm and donate food to the Connecticut Food Drive.

Gottlieb made an announcement in one of her classes to encourage other people to do the same.

"I told them that I would be spending a lot of money, and if they wanted they could join in, or, hey, could just spend my money [for donation] because I can’t do it all myself," Gottlieb said.

Although this may have been hard work, she eagerly expresses how entertaining it was.

"It was the ultimate experience," she said. "Everybody who has extra points should use this great opportunity to be generous."

Gottlieb’s own generous action fell during National Volunteer Week, and at the same time on Thursday that students were rallying at the campus center to raise support for group
activism. Gottlieb said she hopes to prove that one person can make a big difference just leading by example.