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Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 1:04 pm

The 25% amount was what this particular sub shop owner stated was the University's cut. Take that as it is. But I will tell you this is a local business man who supports the atheltic department and (I think) the music department by donating food for events. So not sure why he might inflate the figure.

But the 20% found by Hammb can support the Univsersity's cut as being high.

I think colleges are looking to expand their revenue streams. There is a lot of gnashing of teeth about dorm room phones. Colleges get a percentage of long distance phone calls placed on the system and it totaled in the hundereds of thousands for colleges like BG. Cell phones with unlimited long distance and calling cards have cut into this revenue stream. So colleges are starting to get tied-in with cell phone companies.

Colleges have partnered with corporations to bring fast food on campus. Think Wendy's at the renovated Union. Don't even start to talk about the kick backs from soda manufacturers, which can include FREE scoreboards at athletic facilities. The soda company gives the scoreboards and get sole market control of that facility for 7 to 10 years.

BTW - would it be great to get new scoreboards with video - even if it means drinking only Pepsi products (or Coke, whichever you don't like) for the next 10 years at the Ice Arena.

We need a present student to weight in on this. What is the present cost of the meal plan at BG?

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 1:10 pm

For the 2005-06 Academic year -

Bronze - $2,400

Silver - $2,860

Gold - $3,120

Platinum - $3,740

Prices as published in the 2005-06 Guide to Campus Residence and Dining Centers.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 1:14 pm

Tech83 wrote:The 25% amount was what this particular sub shop owner stated was the University's cut. Take that as it is. But I will tell you this is a local business man who supports the atheltic department and (I think) the music department by donating food for events. So not sure why he might inflate the figure.

But the 20% found by Hammb can support the Univsersity's cut as being high.

I think colleges are looking to expand their revenue streams. There is a lot of gnashing of teeth about dorm room phones. Colleges get a percentage of long distance phone calls placed on the system and it totaled in the hundereds of thousands for colleges like BG. Cell phones with unlimited long distance and calling cards have cut into this revenue stream. So colleges are starting to get tied-in with cell phone companies.

Colleges have partnered with corporations to bring fast food on campus. Think Wendy's at the renovated Union. Don't even start to talk about the kick backs from soda manufacturers, which can include FREE scoreboards at athletic facilities. The soda company gives the scoreboards and get sole market control of that facility for 7 to 10 years.

BTW - would it be great to get new scoreboards with video - even if it means drinking only Pepsi products (or Coke, whichever you don't like) for the next 10 years at the Ice Arena.

We need a present student to weight in on this. What is the present cost of the meal plan at BG?

I stand corrected.

I'm not convinced, however, that the University couldn't figure out a way to keep the money rolling in and partner with local eateries...

Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 2:39 pm

1987Alum - I would like to know more information on the whole issue. But once you get the AD position, I sure you know more about this then what the rest of us are assuming.

Transfer - DANG - what does that include? How does the present system work. During my time (79-83), we had coupon books, which had little coupons with a certain $ value printed on each ticket. (ie 5¢, 10¢, $1) and you just ripped out and paid the cashier in coupons. Eventually we where allowed to use these in the after-hour areas, like the Mid-American Room, Amana Room (or zebra room due to decore), and the Mac bagel cafe. It sucked because whatever you did not spend you lost. Eventually we were given a 2 week grace period in the next quarter to spend old coupons.

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:33 pm

Well, when you used to ride your dinosaur to the cafeteria....

Here are some daily rates for you -

BRONZE PLAN -
$2,400 for the academic year
$10.62 per day

SILVER PLAN -
$2,860 for the academic year
$12.65 per day

GOLD PLAN -
$3,120 per academic year
$13.81 per day

PLATINUM PLAN -
$3,740 per academic year
$16.55 per day

I remember many nights of food coupon poker in Conklin Hall.

I don't recall us ever ordering Prime Rib or enjoying Shrimp Cocktail with our food coupons either. These students have food choices that we would have thought extravagant.

Take a look at the:
Dining Centers - http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/dining/d ... /index.htm

Food Courts - http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/dining/d ... courts.htm

Convenience Stores - http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/dining/d ... stores.htm

Restaraunts - http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/dining/d ... urants.htm

Snack Bars - http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/dining/d ... ckbars.htm

And I must say that I don't see those daily figures as that large. When I think of being on the road, if it weren't for the morning breakfast offerings at the Holiday Inn Express, I could see where I would be paying $20-25 daily for three square meals.

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:50 pm

Man, those prices seem to have gone up a lot since I was there. There is one advantage to being in a fraternity, the year I lived in the house, our meal plan was about 1400 for the year. Not as extensive has a cafeteria, but the cook kept the fridge and pantry stocked. Of course with as much Mr spots and pollyeyes I ate, I was better off with that lower Fraternity meal plan

Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:53 pm

Thanks for the links.... Convience Stores? Food Courts? This all very nice and I wish it was around when I was on campus.

1987alumni this should show you and I how much has changed and the BiG bite the University has taken out of the local economy. Think what the convience stores on campus do to the little carry-out next to the BEE-GEE bookstore.

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:56 pm

Tech83 wrote:Think what the convience stores on campus do to the little carry-out next to the BEE-GEE bookstore.

I seriously doubt the two convenience stores have any impact at all on the convenience store in Campus Quarters.

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:58 pm

Tech83 wrote:Thanks for the links.... Convience Stores? Food Courts? This all very nice and I wish it was around when I was on campus.

1987alumni this should show you and I how much has changed and the BiG bite the University has taken out of the local economy. Think what the convience stores on campus do to the little carry-out next to the BEE-GEE bookstore.

That little convience store next to BEE-GEE sells beer, It can't be outcompeted by the on campus convience stores. Plus I thought they overcharged a bit, so being in Kreischer I went to that one.

Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 4:18 pm

I agree to a point - the University's convience store won't sell beer, but think of all those under-agers and non-beer drinkers (I assume mostly girls) who want to buy soda, chips, milk and so on. That is were I think it would have an impact.

Of course nothing beat Great Scot, which is long gone, for buying beer in my day. They never carded us. I would always buy beer by the quart bottle for study night or laundry night.

momtartin · Post by **momtartin** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 6:17 pm

I had the Silver meal plan all last year and this semester, and I ran over, and some of my friends still have like 1200 on their meal plans. Needless to say, you don't need to spend that much to get a decent meal, even with the prices the University Dining Services has.

golfertk14 · Post by **golfertk14** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 6:28 pm

momtartin wrote:I had the Silver meal plan all last year and this semester, and I ran over, and some of my friends still have like 1200 on their meal plans. Needless to say, you don't need to spend that much to get a decent meal, even with the prices the University Dining Services has.

I gotta say when I was at BG in February I had a great Bacon Burger from the Bowling Greenery (love that name).

FliccGirl · Post by **FliccGirl** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:13 pm

PGY Tiercel wrote:Now the card can also be used like a credit card and students can use it off campus. In the end the university would get 750+outside money. So it seems dumb to charge 25%, and not get usage of the card outside of campus.

The B!G charge doesn't charge interest or anything though, it just sends the charges to your bursar account. So without the percentage from the stores, the university wouldn't make any money from letting the card be used off-campus; they'd be losing business. Using the card off-campus would be just like bursaring: the university foots the bill for whatever product it is, and then sends the charges to the students' bursar accounts to be paid (by their parents

) at a later date.

The meal plans are a different thing. You pay for those ahead of time, so the university puts however many dollars into your meal plan account, and you spend money from that account (like a debit card) whenever they swipe your ID at the dining centers. You can only spend your meal plan money on Dining Services food-- not at vending machines, and not on the non-food items at the convenience stores. If you have a certain amount (not sure how much) or less in your meal plan at the end of the year, they'll refund you, but the university keeps whatever is over that amount.

If I'm wrong on some part of this, please correct me!

BGFalcons232 · Post by **BGFalcons232** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:23 pm

FliccGirl wrote: f you have a certain amount (not sure how much) or less in your meal plan at the end of the year, they'll refund you, but the university keeps whatever is over that amount.

If I'm wrong on some part of this, please correct me!

all of your meal plan money now carries over from semester to semester. i'm not sure what happens after you graduate though...

and only a certain amount (flexfunds) can be spent at the union.

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:50 pm

Yeah, dining services isn't that great of a group when you think of the "flexfunds." They signed a horrible contract then passed their screw up on to the students.

Last year, in the GT located in Mac, a box of water (30 bottles) cost $30. They charged you by the bottle instead of the amazing rate they got it for.

Can you tell that dining services on campus pisses me off?

BEAT WISCONSIN t-shirts at SBX

Meal Plans