2008 Woodie Awards
New ID Card System Will Allow Students to Swipe On Broadway
Christine Gianino
Issue date: 3/23/05 Section: News
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Amid mounting complaints against Manhattan's school food services comes a promising new idea that could go into effect in the very near future. The Student Government recently approved a measure that will, if completed, permit a Manhattan College ID to make purchases in some stores along Broadway.
A slice of pizza at Broadway Joe's, an iced latte from Dunkin Donuts, a bottle of shampoo from Eckerd may all be purchased soon with a Manhattan College ID. As far-fetched as this idea may sound, it is very close to becoming reality. The Campus Improvement Committee has proposed a new system that will allow students to swipe their student IDs to pay for items at participating stores on Broadway and on the Manhattan College campus. Such a system, if implemented, would make cash practically obsolete.
Switching to this new system will likely be a very complicated process, and will be done in stages. The first stage allows students to swipe their IDs to pay for items around campus. The laundry rooms, the college bookstore, the library's photocopy machines, and Eureka are all on-campus locations that would be accepting payments via the ID cards. The Student Activities Office would also be affected by the new system, as students would be able to pay for school trips by simply swiping their IDs.
The Campus Improvement Committee has already allocated $600 to both Eureka and the Student Activities Office so that the proper card-swiping equipment can be installed. The bookstore, library, and laundry rooms do not require any excess equipment. If all goes well, these five locations will be ready for the new card-swiping system as early as the end of this semester.
However, the more exciting news is that the new system, if successful on campus, will be extended to include the off-campus locations along Broadway. If this plan goes into effect, students would be able to use their Manhattan College IDs as a substitute for cash at some of the favorite hot spots in Riverdale: Dunkin Donuts, Broadway Joe's, Subway, Burger King, and Eckerd. The aforementioned businesses would have to purchase the necessary equipment from the Manhattan College Business Manager, and return a small commission to the college with each transaction. Then, once the system goes into effect at those five locations, it could eventually expand to other locations outside of the Riverdale area.
A slice of pizza at Broadway Joe's, an iced latte from Dunkin Donuts, a bottle of shampoo from Eckerd may all be purchased soon with a Manhattan College ID. As far-fetched as this idea may sound, it is very close to becoming reality. The Campus Improvement Committee has proposed a new system that will allow students to swipe their student IDs to pay for items at participating stores on Broadway and on the Manhattan College campus. Such a system, if implemented, would make cash practically obsolete.
Switching to this new system will likely be a very complicated process, and will be done in stages. The first stage allows students to swipe their IDs to pay for items around campus. The laundry rooms, the college bookstore, the library's photocopy machines, and Eureka are all on-campus locations that would be accepting payments via the ID cards. The Student Activities Office would also be affected by the new system, as students would be able to pay for school trips by simply swiping their IDs.
The Campus Improvement Committee has already allocated $600 to both Eureka and the Student Activities Office so that the proper card-swiping equipment can be installed. The bookstore, library, and laundry rooms do not require any excess equipment. If all goes well, these five locations will be ready for the new card-swiping system as early as the end of this semester.
However, the more exciting news is that the new system, if successful on campus, will be extended to include the off-campus locations along Broadway. If this plan goes into effect, students would be able to use their Manhattan College IDs as a substitute for cash at some of the favorite hot spots in Riverdale: Dunkin Donuts, Broadway Joe's, Subway, Burger King, and Eckerd. The aforementioned businesses would have to purchase the necessary equipment from the Manhattan College Business Manager, and return a small commission to the college with each transaction. Then, once the system goes into effect at those five locations, it could eventually expand to other locations outside of the Riverdale area.