Dennis Michael Busch - Official Website
Original Post at SUUNews.com
By Dennis Busch, collective opinion of the
University Journal Editorial Board.
EDITORIAL: Campus food prices deserve a second look
Many students will notice that the choices of where to get a quick snack on campus are not endless.
The two most prominent locations are the SUU Bookstore's Convenience Store and Chartwells Outtakes.
Students who have recently made purchases at the latter might have noticed that prices seem high, especially compared to previous years.
In an informal survey conducted by theUniversity Journal, Chartwells was found to be the most expensive place to purchase the four items we studied: a 32 oz. fountain drink, a Butterfinger candy bar, a Granny B's pink frosted cookie and a Nature Valley Granola Bar.
Prices were recorded on campus at the Convenience Store and Outtakes as well as Lin's Marketplace and Color Country Chevron just off Interstate 15 at exit 59.
The drink at Outtakes is 67 percent more expensive than the same beverage at the SUU Convenience Store, which was the cheapest place for beverages.
While freeway gas stations are often considered to be one of the most expensive places to purchase snack food, the Butterfinger was 30 percent more at Outtakes than at the Chevron.
The Editorial Board thinks this price discrepancy between Outtakes and other locations is alarming.
Students with meal plans are only able to spend their Dining Dollars at Chartwells locations, forcing them to shop at the overpriced Outtakes.
This allows Chartwells to charge more for meal plans, while ensuring that the money comes back to them, and at a high-markup for students.
While we appreciate that the university-operated Convenience Store is an inexpensive alternative for students, we think that the administration should ensure that their students are not being fleeced by an on-campus entity.
The two most prominent locations are the SUU Bookstore's Convenience Store and Chartwells Outtakes.
Students who have recently made purchases at the latter might have noticed that prices seem high, especially compared to previous years.
In an informal survey conducted by theUniversity Journal, Chartwells was found to be the most expensive place to purchase the four items we studied: a 32 oz. fountain drink, a Butterfinger candy bar, a Granny B's pink frosted cookie and a Nature Valley Granola Bar.
Prices were recorded on campus at the Convenience Store and Outtakes as well as Lin's Marketplace and Color Country Chevron just off Interstate 15 at exit 59.
The drink at Outtakes is 67 percent more expensive than the same beverage at the SUU Convenience Store, which was the cheapest place for beverages.
While freeway gas stations are often considered to be one of the most expensive places to purchase snack food, the Butterfinger was 30 percent more at Outtakes than at the Chevron.
The Editorial Board thinks this price discrepancy between Outtakes and other locations is alarming.
Students with meal plans are only able to spend their Dining Dollars at Chartwells locations, forcing them to shop at the overpriced Outtakes.
This allows Chartwells to charge more for meal plans, while ensuring that the money comes back to them, and at a high-markup for students.
While we appreciate that the university-operated Convenience Store is an inexpensive alternative for students, we think that the administration should ensure that their students are not being fleeced by an on-campus entity.
© 2009 Dennis Busch, University Journal
