By TIM ZVONCHEK ‘19
Saint Ignatius students have something new in their wallets, an official Wildcard. This card, which acts as a credit card and student ID, is loaded with money so students can make purchases around campus.
Wildcats are able to use it to buy lunches from the cafeteria and also to buy Ignatius gear from the bookstore. The future of this card is bright, as it is rumored to be expanded to all vending machines, restaurants around Ohio City, and even Wendy’s. This Wildcard was introduced to our campus a few months ago as a way to increase convenience, in addition to preparing us for life on a college campus. Overall, the new system has been running smoothly. When asked about his opinion on the wildcard David Turska of campus dining said “I feel that the system is user-friendly for our students and parents and has streamlined the process of adding funds to a student’s account.”
The Wildcard’s main use is in the cafeteria to purchase food. According to the cafeteria cashier staff, it has been moving lines along quicker, provided that students have their cards out, ready, and pre-loaded with money. However, there are still people who feel the need to pay with cash, holding the line up. Students around campus feel that there should be different lines, such as a Wildcard-only, a cash-only, and a mixed line. In order to keep lines moving and efficient, the Campus Dining staff also warns students to check their card’s balance, as they cannot see this and will decline the card if it is below ten dollars in debt.
All students are encouraged to use their Wildcards whenever possible because it is safer, quicker, and easier. When asked about the new system, Tommy Napoli said, “I like the Wildcard because now I don’t always have to carry money around If I’m hungry. But I don’t think the new system is easier or faster. For me, it seemed like punching in my student ID was a much easier process”.
