By AMANDA THOMAS

ajt008@latech.edu

 

Use of Tech Express can easily be seen in venues all over campus — anywhere from getting a Coke in George T. Madison Hall to a Caramel Macchiato in Tolliver Hall, a scantron in the Bookstore or a load of laundry in the residence halls.

Other colleges in the state and across the country allow for their equivalent of Tech Express to be used in venues outside of campus, Scott Terry, the president of the Ruston Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, said.

“Businesses in Baton Rouge allow Louisiana State University students to use their equivalent, which is called TigerCard, rather than being limited to only what is available on campus,” Terry said.

Joseph R. Thomas, Jr., the vice president for financial services, said a pending proposal could extend the use of the Tech Express cards to off-campus book stores.

“The problem we face is with the businesses that will have to decide if Tech Express purchases are really going to benefit them after paying fees and for the equipment,” Thomas said.

Danielle Hamilton, a freshman biology major, said the use of Tech Express off campus could really boost local business.

“The lines are so long in the Student Center, but if I could use my card off campus I wouldn’t have to wait all day to eat lunch,” Hamilton said.

Sammy Guy, a senior political science major, said more people would get Tech Express if they could use it off campus.

“I would actually use mine a whole lot more, but I’m a senior now, so it’s too late,” Guy said.

Thomas said Tech Express was designed to be an on-campus card to make most things easily accessible to students.

Jacob Oakley, a sophomore pre-business major, transferred from LSU. Oakley said he lived on campus, and it was nice to be able to use his TigerCard at restaurants and stores close to campus.

“Now I live off campus, and I don’t really have a need for Tech Express,” Oakley said. He said it would be helpful so he could go out to eat more often, but now he just uses Tech Express for an occasional snack.

Thomas also said a concern is from parents who said Tech Express money is intended for school and not for entertainment.

Avery Avant, a freshman special education major, said using Tech Express has become part of her everyday life.

Just the other day Avant said she talked about wanting to use the money her mom puts on her Tech Express off campus.

“I would be so happy because I could eat at any restaurant instead of just two,” Avant said.

Thomas said Aramark Food Services is making Tech a more innovative food service for students.

Therefore, Thomas said it would be harmful to the Tech-Aramark partnership to get restaurants and food stores in Ruston to use Tech Express.

Heather Gault, a freshman psychology major, said she is willing to help out in any way to get Tech Express off campus.

“I will vote, petition, whatever it takes to get this done.”