Have you run out of cash? Not feeling Barone tonight? Sick of The Stag? Students craving a change can now use their StagCards at local merchants.
Last week The Chef’s Table on Post Road
held a press conference to formally kick-off the program which allows students and faculty the ability to use their StagBucks off campus at a few businesses.
Dean of Students Mark Reed spoke to those gathered and expressed his happiness with the
program, and shared his aspirations between Fairfield University and the surrounding community.
“I hope that many merchants follow Chef’s Table in joining this program,” said FUSA Senate Vice President Brett Ritterbeck ’05 as he performed the ceremonial first swipe.
Chef’s Table owner Rich Herzfeld said that this is a great opportunity for his restaurant.
“In the past year we have redone the whole shop to make it more aimed towards students,” said Herzfeld.
“We are trying to attract more students by having art shows, cranking tunes out through new speakers from our iPod, and now accepting the Fairfield StagCards. I envision a perfect afternoon where a Fairfield student goes to Las Vetas for a coffee in the afternoon, heads over The Chef’s Table for dinner, and then catches a live show back over at Las Vetas,” Herzfeld added.
Coordinator of Information Services Mike Tortora was the one who made the connections between the University and local merchants.
“We put out a survey in December in order to find out which merchants students wanted to be able to use their StagCards, and we received over 900 responses. From these responses we approached some businesses, and that is how businesses signed on to the program.”
He also encouraged future suggestions from students, adding, “We welcome student feedback. If you want a particular business to join the program approach them or drop into the StagCard office on the lower level Gonzaga with the name and address of the business so we can get them a contract.”
FUSA President Paul Duffy ’05 was also enthusiastic about the program.
“As a result of the new StagCard program giving students the ability to use their IDs off campus it will help foster relationships between the often-jointed student and town populations,” said Duffy.
“It really has the ability to help transform Fairfield into a college town,” he added.
The program is good for students because they don’t have to carry cash on them, and they can even have their parents add StagBucks directly onto their cards via the StagCard website, www.stagcardonline.com. Parents get the peace of mind of knowing that the money they are giving their students is going towards beneficial products since alcohol, tobacco and lottery ticket purchases are not eligible.
The only complaint many students have is that you cannot use the Dining Dollars given to students as part of their meal plan.
“Dining dollars are money set aside for Sodexho,” said Reed.
Duffy believes that the future success of this program lies in the hands of students.
“If you go someplace regularly talk to the owner’s and tell them that you want to be able to use your StagCard there,” said Duffy.
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