The high cost of convenience
Bryan Burtner, Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: Editorials and Opinion
There have been calls lately, and perhaps they are justified, to reimburse students with the money purportedly saved by Montgoris Dining Hall "going trayless."
I, however, have a simpler proposal for putting to good use the gigantic surplus this plan is sure to produce: stop gouging St. John's students for the convenience of buying on-campus.
Simply put, the tuition, housing and meal plan costs that we pay entitle us to as much.
If you're a resident student at the University, you've probably noticed that things cost a little more in the C-Store than most off campus grocery and convenience stores.
Here are the facts: A 20 ounce bottle of Vitamin Water goes for $1.79 at the 7-11 on Union Turnpike, about a half mile from gate six, while the same product can be had for $2.29 at the C-Store. The same prices apply to 32 ounce PowerAdes.
It gets worse if you're talking dairy: A pint of Haagen Dazs ice cream is $3.99 at the Rite Aid on the corner of Union and Parsons, compared to $4.59 at the C-Store, and a half gallon of 1% milk, $1.79 at the 7-11, sees a price bump of 80 cents, up to $2.59 on campus.
Buy them all on one short trip off campus and you're looking at a savings of $2.30 (and getting a little exercise to work off the Haagen Dazs).
Hungry Johnny? Money hungry, maybe.
To be fair, Executive Director of Auxiliary Service Ken Waldhof has some reasonable explanations for the price differences.
"Chartwells is not buying on the same volume level as a 7-11 or a deli," he explained, "so it's difficult to compete with their prices." He also explained that the unionized workforce of Chartwells makes it even more difficult for them to compete with lower-priced alternatives.
These points form a valid argument from an economic viewpoint, especially from Chartwells, an independent company that has no particular duty to the student body of St. John's.
The University, though, should do more. St. John's has the power to pressure Chartwells and remind them that it is a University that sides with its students before its outside contractors.
I, however, have a simpler proposal for putting to good use the gigantic surplus this plan is sure to produce: stop gouging St. John's students for the convenience of buying on-campus.
Simply put, the tuition, housing and meal plan costs that we pay entitle us to as much.
If you're a resident student at the University, you've probably noticed that things cost a little more in the C-Store than most off campus grocery and convenience stores.
Here are the facts: A 20 ounce bottle of Vitamin Water goes for $1.79 at the 7-11 on Union Turnpike, about a half mile from gate six, while the same product can be had for $2.29 at the C-Store. The same prices apply to 32 ounce PowerAdes.
It gets worse if you're talking dairy: A pint of Haagen Dazs ice cream is $3.99 at the Rite Aid on the corner of Union and Parsons, compared to $4.59 at the C-Store, and a half gallon of 1% milk, $1.79 at the 7-11, sees a price bump of 80 cents, up to $2.59 on campus.
Buy them all on one short trip off campus and you're looking at a savings of $2.30 (and getting a little exercise to work off the Haagen Dazs).
Hungry Johnny? Money hungry, maybe.
To be fair, Executive Director of Auxiliary Service Ken Waldhof has some reasonable explanations for the price differences.
"Chartwells is not buying on the same volume level as a 7-11 or a deli," he explained, "so it's difficult to compete with their prices." He also explained that the unionized workforce of Chartwells makes it even more difficult for them to compete with lower-priced alternatives.
These points form a valid argument from an economic viewpoint, especially from Chartwells, an independent company that has no particular duty to the student body of St. John's.
The University, though, should do more. St. John's has the power to pressure Chartwells and remind them that it is a University that sides with its students before its outside contractors.
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