When students visit the Student Union Memorial Center on Wednesday, they can expect to save money. But on those same days, the UA could lose around $12,000 in revenue.
The Student Union offers “”Savvy Student”” Wednesday combination meals from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every week at several restaurants. The average combo meal is between $5 and $7.49 before the discount, saving customers about $12,000 per day, according to a funding application filed through the Office of Student Affairs. Victoria Christie, the associate director of dining services, believes the $3 combo meal does not lose the university money because it “”brings more people to the union.””
The Student Services fee funds part of the $3 combo service, according to Christie. She believes it is one of the ways that the student fee dollars are “”hard at work.””
Out of the 4,889 respondents to the Student Services fee survey conducted last semester, 76 percent of students voted in favor of the Savvy Wednesday deal. Around 58 percent of graduate students, which comprised about one-third of survey respondents, approved of the “”Savvy Student”” deal.
For the 2010-2011 school year, the program received $194,000, the second highest funding out of all funded initiatives.
Out of the $2,138,500 allocated from the student services fee for 2009-2010, Savvy Student Wednesdays received about 15 percent, or $320,000.
Some students are dissatisfied with “”Savvy Student Wednesdays,”” regardless of the savings they receive.
“”It is impossible to get something to eat in here … the line is to the door,”” said Patrick Hughes, a sophomore majoring in public management and policy. He believes that the idea behind the discount is good, but the lines make him not want to go at all.
Ashley Heidenreich, a senior majoring in history and classics, believes the deal would be more effective if they extended the duration of the savings period to all day.
“”I wait in line for it sometimes, but I rather get something else and not wait,”” she said.
Employees like Adam Weiner, a political science sophomore who works at Chick-fil-A, describe $3 Wednesdays as a “”complete zoo.””
“”We (the Chick-fil-A employees) are running back and fourth continuously for the entire time,”” he said. “”There is just so much to do, it literally takes seven or eight of us back there to get it all done.””
Weiner does not believe that his work loses money due to the Wednesday combo meal because they get more customers during the deal, and it is cheaper to produce the ingredients needed in their sandwiches in bigger quantities.
The Italian eatery 3 Cheeses and a Noodle serves about 500 to 600 students during the three-hour period, according to Sarah Stoudt, a nutritional science junior and 3 Cheeses and a Noodle employee.
Most students, it seems, would rather wait in line to save a few bucks.
“”Getting cheaper food is a no brainer,”” said Bridget Angulo, an undeclared sophomore.
