Checking meal point balances not as simple anymore

The past two weeks of school have brought frustration to countless students around campus. The frustration, however, is not directed at professors or books. It is directed towards the new cash registers in Residential Programs and Services dining facilities. \nRPS replaced the existing cash registers and switched to a new software system, mainly because they are now managing meal points, a task which was formerly handled by the card office.\nStudents are upset because the new registers do not automatically display their current meal point balances after they make purchases. This problem confused RPS as much as it confused the students, since it was under the impression the new equipment would automatically display the information. \n"It's supposed to be doing it automatically," said Bob Tegeler, an associate director of dining services. "It will be checked into."\nIn addition, students can no longer check their meal points online. RPS officials said this problem will soon be fixed with a revamped site.\nSo far, RPS has not "had many complaints," said Diana Dominguez, an associate director of dining services. But students have found the situation to be extremely inconvenient. \n"It's kind of like your bank account," said sophomore Sara Spearman. "You want to know how much you have in there so you can decide how much to spend."\nIn order to receive meal point balances, students must ask cashiers to hit a certain button on the keyboard and tell them the number that appears. Cashiers don't always do this for students unless they are specifically asked or if the dining areas are not busy, Spearman said.\n"A couple times when it wasn't busy, the lady pushed a button and told me how many points I had left (without me asking her)," she said. "At lunch when the line is seven people deep, they just swipe your card."\nTegeler said students could also ask the cashier for a receipt that would show a balance or call 856-1515 to determine the balance and to ask any questions about meal points they may have. \nRPS will soon have a Web site that will show students their current meal point balance, but it's not sure when this site will be finished. It could be up and running within a week or two, but it could take longer.\n"We'll work diligently on it," Dominguez said. "It's a service we do want to offer. It's not something we're going to put off."\nThe new register and software systems offer some benefits to students, said Sam Scarpino, the Resident Halls Association Vice President of Internal Affairs.\n"It does streamline and update the old system," he said.\nThe new system features touchscreens and scanners that supposedly help speed up the check-out process in most situations.\nThe Web site will also be a better version of what has been available to students in the past, Tegeler said. It will offer the most current balances, whereas in the past the balances shown were from the previous day. \nTegeler thinks RPS now managing meal points will benefit students. RPS has created a meal-planning committee made up of an equal number of RHA members and administrators, so students will be able to have a voice in the transition.\n"We can give students more options and input as far as meals are involved," Tegeler said. "We can react more directly to any concerns with meals and we are continuing to try to respond to students' comments and concerns"