The smell of success

When 12:30 weekday classes end in Ballantine Hall, students lift their noses in the air, hoping to catch a whiff of pizza from the lobby. Often the smell of hot Papa John's pies permeates the first three floors of the academic building to devastating effect. Hungry students, professors and staff gather, ready to fork over cash to whichever student organization has laid a claim to the lobby that day. \nThe idea is simple and brilliant. For the past four years, student organizations have been reserving the Ballantine lobby to earn money by selling pizza, with resounding success. At least two days a week, the lobby becomes a portable pizza place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Who knew success smells like pepperoni?\nThe Ballantine lobby's status as a convenient pizza venue has been popular since the lobby opened its doors to student organizations four years ago, said Ballantine mail room manager Art Heckman. "Some groups had standing reservations that were crowding out anyone else," he said. Heckman had to alter the reservation system so that groups could only have a standing reservation every other week. "I still tell them I may have to change (reservations)," Heckman said. "Sometimes I have to rearrange groups."\nThe Vietnamese Student Association has sold pizza in Ballantine every Tuesday since the beginning of the school year. \n"In about two hours, we sell 21 pizzas," said sophomore Cassie Tran, who is treasurer for organization. \nTran said VSA is grateful to pizza vendors like Papa John's that give discounts to student organizations. The money the organization raised from selling pizza funded the Cultural Cookie event at McNutt earlier this semester, where VSA provided free Vietnamese food and entertainment for a crowd of 200. \n"We see a lot of repeat customers," Tran said. "They recognize me and say 'Hey!'" \nHeckman buys some pizza himself regularly. \n"It's a handy lunch option," he said. "Staff people appreciate it, too." \nGroups like the VSA have built up a following of students, staff and professors who make a daily trek to the lobby in the hope that an organization is selling pizza. When the Labyrinth Literary Magazine booth ran out of pizza last Thursday, several of these devoted students who had lined up with cash in hand left with disappointed faces.\nMost students, however, see the pizza sales as serendipitous. \n"I kind of like when it's a surprise," said sophomore Astara Light, who said she buys a slice whenever she sees a pizza sale.\nLight has bought pizza from student groups on campus four times this semester. \n"I think it is a brilliant idea," she said. \nBallantine lobby isn't the only venue open to IU student groups. Groups set up shop in Woodburn and outside Ballantine Hall when the weather is fair as well.\nGroups might have even more financial success if they informed students what days pizza will be on sale. \n"Just talking about pizza makes me hungry ... but I never have cash," said sophomore Kavita Singh, who wasn't able to buy the pizza when she saw it on sale this semester. \nBut pizza is its own best advertisement: The smell of Papa John's or Aver's draws customers better than any flyer.\nStudent organizations are only missing out on one important portion of the IU demographic, however. Junior Myke Luurtsema complained about the lack of variety in the food sold. \n"I recommend more vegan options," he said.