University exclusive currency has become a new standard for several colleges across the
country. At Jacksonville State University they have Flex Dollars and at the University of
Alabama they have Bama Cash.
For our very own Samford University, this currency is called Bulldog Bucks.
Bulldog Bucks seem like an easy way for students to grab some food at Freshens on a
busy day, or even just a pick-me-up cup of coffee at Einsteins. This being said, have you ever
stopped to wonder why they exist in the first place?
As most students already know, university exclusive currency works in a similar fashion
to a debit card. The only problem with this is, Bulldog Bucks are a completely unnecessary
middle man.
If you think about it, the only time it is beneficial to reload your student account is
when Samford has the occasional sale where you get extra Bulldog Bucks if you buy a certain
amount. Even then, this may not be entirely useful to students unless they are reliant on the
on-campus restaurants that don’t accept meal swipes.
This all goes without mentioning the fact that any visiting food trucks are outrageously
overpriced when you consider students on a budget. The unfortunate reality of the
situation is that Bulldog Bucks have become an unhelpful alternative to the cafeteria due to the
university center renovations (and the fact that Freshens now only accepts meal swipes from 11
a.m. – 3 p.m.)
One possible solution to this problem would be to adopt a currency plan similar to that of
the University of Alabama. Bama Cash works in a way that allows students to interact with the
city around them with their student card. This includes on and off campus restaurants, coffee
shops, grocery stores and even gas stations.
Although Bulldog Bucks can be useful at times, many improvements can be made to
Samford’s meal plans to benefit its students. After all, we are paying for it.
