Tuesday, October 15, 1996
COUPONS:
Business Enterprises must forsake profit, give dorm residents
fair coupon value Does the UCLA administration have a public
relations department? If so, how does it spend its time? After all,
UCLA business offices habitually seem misdirected. And with
Business Enterprises’ recent discontinuation of dormitory meal
coupons, the administration has further soured an already dubious
image in the area of student support.
Granted, dorm residents always complained that the value of meal
coupons ($1.60 for lunches and $1.70 for dinners) was scant, but
now the coupons are gone. And what is taking their places? Sacks.
Thermal pouches which are filled with mess hall delights and then
lugged onto campus.
According to On-Campus Housing, meal vouchers were eliminated
largely due to student concerns over the low dollar value, as well
as the notion that the need for coupons dropped off after the
advent of 14- and 11-meal plans. Also, the sack meal program gives
residents more choices by allowing them to compose their own
meals.
Students could compose their own meals at ASUCLA facilities if
they had vouchers with appropriate dollar values. But UCLA Business
Enterprises never thoroughly addressed the situation; it would have
been a welcome surprise if UCLA Business Enterprises had contacted
ASUCLA and worked toward offering a cost-effective on-campus meal
plan.
But who could blame Business Enterprises? Students were moaning
(albeit justifiably), and the voucher system was becoming a
headache to administrators. They simply erased their troubles by
erasing the coupons. In a couple of years, when a fresh batch of
students inhabit the dorms, these new residents will not know what
they’re missing in regard to meal coupons. They’ll think,"Vouchers?
What in the hell are vouchers? They gave me a lovely blue-and-gold
sack."
Still, the popularity of meal coupons must not be forgotten.
Between 200,000 and 300,000 coupons were redeemed each year. And if
on-campus student residents had their fair say, vouchers would
probably be back. After all, sacking lunches is a nuisance on
hectic school days, and it is better to have even $1.60 for a bagel
and iced tea than a soggy sandwich crushed by an apple in a thermal
tote.
Business Enterprises has confirmed its role as little more than
a profit-seeking machine. It is time Business Enterprises gave
something back to the students they are supposed to serve. The
voucher system should be revived, and coupon values should increase
to $2.50 for lunch and $3.00 for dinner, with UCLA Business
Enterprises absorbing the increase through budget regulations.
Many students simply will not use the sack meal program because
of its impracticality. They will continue to miss dining hall
serving hours due to classes and activities. As a result, they will
pay twice for a single meal; once in their dorms and again at a
ASUCLA facility.
Business Enterprises: bring the vouchers back, and, should you
recognize your responsibilities as service providers, make them
worth a spinach calzone and a decent cup of coffee.