Nathanael Mooney, Campus Carrier staff writer
Emma Bellantoni, Campus Carrier staff writer
The Office of Student Involvement works with the Rome-Floyd community to provide discount cards for local establishments to students. According to Brittani Farmer, director of student involvement, student discount cards have been offered for more than a decade.
“We reach out to different organizations and businesses around the Rome area to see if any of them want to participate in our discount card for the year,” Farmer said. “We get those contracts signed and have these printed over the summer ready to go for students, faculty and staff throughout the year.”
This year, the discount cards were given to resident assistants to hand out to their residents in each community. Head Resident Chloe Scholl believes this was a promising idea because everyone was able to get one easily.
“I think it’s good that the resident assistants handed them out because that way we know that everyone got one instead of handing them out at the Krannert desk,” Scholl said.
Throughout the years, other changes have been made to the program, including adding different types of business.
“A cool thing that has been added was this color coding,” Farmer said. “Our students have been trying to find businesses other than just food. We have food, retail services and automotive on there.”
Freshman Emma Rawlins believes it is nice to get something back from the community, even if it is 10 percent off from different places.
“Berry in general kind of puts a lot into the community, so it’s nice getting a little something back,” Rawlins said. “Like 10 percent, it does not seem like a lot, but it is a lot. It’s just nice to get a little bit of money back.”
The discount card offers students off-campus options for dining, with the bonus of saving money. Rawlins feels the discounts help the students due to their low income and high expenses.
“College is expensive, everyone knows that, but it’s kind of nice because you don’t want to eat D-Hall every single day, and going out to eat is expensive,” Rawlins said. “We don’t need to work a lot, especially freshman. There is a lot going on, but I feel like the discounts kind of help.”
Scholl also believes that discounts are beneficial because it allows students to have money to spend on other items.
“Getting discounts on services is beneficial because we’re paying for school,” Scholl said. “I guess because we’re paying a lot of money for school, you don’t have as much money for other things.”
Rawlins feels more inclined to visit the business on the student discount card, which leads to the exploration of the Rome area.
“It brings the community together in a way. If you want to go out and get something to eat that is off campus, then pull out the discount card and be like: ‘which one do I get?’” Rawlins said. “If you’re inclined to go off campus and get a meal, then you’re also inclined to drive around and see the town and go invest in other smaller businesses.”
Students and faculty have concluded that discounts improve Berry’s quality of living.
“It gets our students off campus and into the Rome community to explore a little bit and also provides a welcoming opportunity to students as well as promotes the businesses to help further their growth as a part of the Rome community,” Farmer said.