VSA to purchase VCard machines for College Center

Hayley Tsukayama News Editor

Vassar Student Association (VSA) Vice President of Activities Jimmy Kelly has a proposal to make shopping in the College Center a little easier. At the VSA Council meeting on Sunday Dec. 2 , Kelly announced that he is raising money for four machines that will enable students to use their VCash accounts to pay for items purchased from student organizations and other College Center merchants.

The acquisition of these machines, called wedges, will also make it easier for organizations to sell goods for fundraising purposes.

“Students do not tend to carry around cash,” said Kelly, “but they almost have to carry their cards. We don’t have [VCash] machines in the College Center right now and it is one of the biggest obstacles to tabling.”

Kelly said that ideally he would like to see the machines up and running by the time students return to campus next semester.

Card Office Administrative Assistant Georgette Silvers said that, with the swipe machines, when students purchase goods in the College Center with their student identification cards, the machines will deduct money “exactly like they do in our off-campus vendors program.”

Director of International Services and Special Projects Andrew Meade, who was in charge of the Card Office until 2005, said that nascent plans to purchase more machines have been voiced for years but that the VSA had never taken up a fundraising effort before. He said he was pleased that the project was finally going through.

“It’s a win-win,” he said, “It’s convenient for students and organizations won't have to work as hard to hit their goals.”

In addition to the four machines, the College must also purchase printers and install hubs for their operation. Silvers said that, as of last year, each machine cost roughly $320 and each printer was about $250.

Kelly has asked all VSA organizations whether they would be willing to contribute money to the effort. Thus far approximately 30 organizations, including all of the class councils, have stated they will give money for the purchase.

“I think these machines facilitate better overall commerce in the College Center and provide a much needed aid to orgs for their fundraising,” said Class of 2009 President Maryrose Myrtetus in an e-mailed statement. “The 2009 Class Council decided to pitch in money from our budget because we saw the value in these machines.”

“This will help student organizations and help vendors that come on campus,” said Kelly. He added the change will make the weekly Farmers Market more accessible which, he hopes, will have an impact on students’s shopping behaviors. “I hope that this will encourage students to buy local, sustainable produce,” Kelly said.

Overall, the proposal has found support on all levels. Kelly and Meade both said that everyone from Director of Campus Activities Teresa Quinn to individual students have responded with extremely positive feedback.

“It’s better for students in general and makes everything a lot easier,” Kelly said.