The University Corporation is attracting students to campus eateries by giving them discounts and a chance to win prizes.
The Passport, a 3-by-3 inch folded card that has 11 slots of participating CSUN eateries, must be stamped after making a minimum purchase of a $1.50. When using the passport, the first two stamps give students a $1 off their next purchase and four stamps give them $3 off their subsequent purchase, said Elizabeth M. Corrigan, associate director of campus dining.
The cards can be found at participating eateries and once the card is complete students must write their e-mail address on the back side of the card and return it to any of the participating eateries to receive a $12 a la dining card and to get entered into a drawing at the end of the semester for an opportunity to win prizes such as an iTouch and mountain bike.
Corrigan said the passport is “encouraging people to walk around campus and discover the variety of eateries.”
The Passport was started in September 2009 and since then the University Corporation has received a lot of positive feedback, Corrigan said.
Annette Young, manager of The Edge in the Matador Bookstore Complex said she likes the new incentive for students.
“The fact students get a discount is the greatest,” Young said. “The corporation is doing a lot for the students and their needs are being addressed.”
Young said she has already seen students take advantage of the discounts as she sees a lot of them use the $12 a la dining cards.
“A young fellow came in and only paid 10 cents for a lunch croissant due to his $3 discount card,” Young said. “I wish I could pay 10 cents for a lunch croissant.”
Some students do not use the Passport because they do not eat on campus.
Ernesto Marmol, 26, electrical engineering major, said he is a full-time student and also works.
“I do not have time to visit all the places located on campus, so using the passport does not really have any use for me,” Marmol said.
Nichol Ferrara, 23, liberal studies major, said the Passport is not useful to her.
“I don’t eat at all the places on campus so there would be no need to have or use the passport,” Ferrara said.
Corrigan said there are comment boxes located at many of the participating dining spots so students can leave a comment pertaining to the Passport.
With the success of the two previous semesters, Corrigan said, “the Passport is here to stay.”
