Broken machine brings Spot woes

editorial cartoon by Christian A. Lopez
editorial cartoon by Christian A. Lopez

Standing in line at the Spot is generally a small price to pay for the exemplary service provided by the staff followed by the tantalizing taste of items from the grill menu. But despite the improvements that have been made in the food industry at the University of La Verne, there is a new issue arising.

Food at the Spot consistently costs more than students are allotted as representational meal prices. That overflow is traditionally carried over to students’ cash cards.

This semester, according to the Spot workers, the meal card-swiping machine deleted its memory and will cost $2,000 to replace. In the meanwhile, register workers tally expenses daily onto a loose-leaf sheet of paper no longer enabling them to tell students their cash card balance.

According to the director of food services, the loose paper tallies get entered into the computer in Davenport every night. Now that it is nearing the end of October, many students are nearing the end of their cash allowances. Without the knowledge of how much cash students have available, they are now finding out that they have exceeded their limit and currently owe a balance.

Keith Friend, the new senior food service director has impressed students this semester. A seemingly limitless expansion on drink items at the Spot and increased quality in customer service has left students almost speechless. But, if the end of the term introduces a new balance for meal cardholders, students will no longer appreciate any improvements as steps forward but as negative odes and resentment. They will all have been a means to drain students for more money than they originally negotiated.

Students who access the Spot utilize their cash card because it is available. Students do not pay extra for the cash allowance. It is allotted to each according to the associated meal plan. With the knowledge of a zero balance, students would much rather refrain from charging Spot food and going over their limit resulting in an owed balance.

Students pay tuition to the amount of $16,800 a year and for those who live in on-campus housing, they pay an additional $5,200 minimum each per year for room and board. Actually, there are 485 housing residents totaling $2,522,000 minimum a year for room and board alone. Friend said that a replacement part for the meal card scanner would arrive this week.

Aramark dining services needs to take the blame for its misfortunes and pick up the tab for the cash card balance overflow. Students should not be held financially responsible for an issue that began before students arrived for the academic year. If the tallies are entered into the computer daily, the updated ‘zip’ list will prevent students from overcharging in the future and keep balances from reaching extremes.

Until the machine is updated, students must put items back on the shelves when verbally notified of their lack of funds.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

Christian A. Lopez, Staff Writer
Christian A. Lopez

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