The days of feverishly loading a Sun Card to print a paper before class, eat at the Memorial Union or wash clothes on campus will soon end as the University phases out its Sun Dollar program this summer. But will this help streamline a sometimes-confusing process, or take money from the hands of local retailers?
Sun Dollars are nearly identical to Maroon and Gold dollars with the exception that they can be spent off-campus. The two different currencies on one card, which students cannot withdraw from once they make a deposit, forces students to balance their on-campus and off-campus needs in an inflexible system.
The University’s new Pitchfork Identification MasterCard Check Card will take effect in the fall, combining student ID’s with checking accounts at MidFirst Bank, funds which do not come with the limitations of Sun Dollars and M&G.
But are these limitations really detrimental to those who use the program? Parents of out-of-state students who regularly feed their sons or daughters through the Sun Dollars service may need to resort to alternative ways of sending students money, such as on-campus only Maroon and Gold dollars.
New freshmen, especially students from out of state, can come to campus and have no idea where to start. Toothpaste, chips and energy drinks are all located on and around campus and by accepting Sun Dollars for these basic staples of student life, businesses can instill trust in parents who may be hesitant to send $300, no strings attached, to an 18-year-old living in a new town.
Local businesses rely on students to provide the traffic they need to stay open, with more than one Tempe proprietor having to close during the summer when students flock home. Signing up to accept Sun Dollars is one way these companies can grab a portion of that student audience while it’s in town from August to May.
This, however, greatly limits students’ dining options. The University does provide a number of eating options at all of its campuses, but they often close early in the evening and serve limited menu items at commercial restaurants such as Taco Bell and Burger King.
Many of the off-campus restaurants that do accept Sun Dollars will certainly see a lack of traffic during the lunch and dinner hours. And let’s be honest, who wants to hang out around campus on a Saturday or Sunday for lunch?
Being able to explore Tempe allows students to create a sense of home. A check card in place of Sun Dollars may expand that freedom, or it may send parents into gift card mode as they try to control the spending habits of newly liberated college teens.
will soon end as the University phases out its Sun Dollar program this summer. But will this help streamline a sometimes-confusing process, or take money from the hands of local retailers?
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