A vending machine offers bottled water in the basement of Cupples II.

The error was probably a blunder on the part of the vendor, according to Christopher Doyle, the senior contract management liaison for Resource Management.

He said the water bottles are not supposed to be in the lower-level Coca Cola machine, and they will be removed in the near future.

“I know mistakes happen…and these are humans filling the machine. Maybe you have a different vendor serving campus this month who doesn’t know that water bottles are banned,” Doyle said.

The University instated a policy against selling bottled water on campus during the 2008-2009 academic year. The school has continued to sell other bottled beverages, including soda, juice and iced tea.

Students say that the University should take further actions to adhere to its policy regarding bottled water.

“If we have a policy we should stick to it,” sophomore Alaina Smith said.

Others acknowledged that while the error is unfortunate, mistakes do happen.

“The first reaction is to say that it is hypocritical, but honestly I think it is probably just a slip-up on the part of the University, not an intentional infringement of the policy,” senior Tricia Brandt said. “I’m sure the water bottles will be removed shortly,”

Upon learning that bottled water was being sold in a campus vending machine, Doyle said he would call the vendor immediately to have the contraband material removed.

“[The bottled water] has not come to my attention. I’m going to make a phone call now to get them taken care of,” he said.