Obie Dollars Developed

Whether one walks past Kettering, or through the lofty Adam J. Lewis Environmental Studies Center, it is not difficultt to distinguish Oberlinıs commitment to innovation. Residential Life and Services has plans of its own.

Several years in the making, Obie dollars allow students or their parents to credit money to the Oberlin student identification card. The card can then be used as a debit card for purchases on campus and at local businesses.

Obie dollars are different from Campus Dining Services flex dollars. Obie dollars are not intended to replace or supplement the student meal plan, although they are accepted at Gibsons, the Feve, Foxgrape the Campus Restaurant and the DeCafe. "The new program is really just a financial management decision by each student, like use of a cash machine or credit card," said Michele Gross, assistant director of Res Life.

Oberlin had a form of Obie dollars in the past, but they were simply a way of getting additional flex dollars, and not a very popular option. Unlike Obie dollars, flex dollars can only be used to purchase food at Stevenson and the DeCafe. Obie dollars, however, will not be limited to simply food purchases. Later in the year copy machines will accept Obie dollars. Starting next year vending machines and laundry facilities will follow.

When the library needed to replace their copy card readers, Res Life explored the option of making the money available through the Oberlin I.D. card that students already use for their meal plans and dorm access. Town vendors approached the college asking to be involved.

"From the merchantsı standpoint, we hope to get 100% participation among Oberlin businesses, so the student feels as though they can rely on them for all their needs. We would hope it would eventually be perceived as the Oberlin Dollar," says Dave Parsh, owner of Daveıs Army/Navy and president of the Merchantsı Association.

When a student pays for a purchase with Obie dollars at any of the participating stores, their I.D. is scanned and the amount of the purchase deducted from a prepaid account. The merchants are then reimbursed by the College periodically.

No downtown stores will be capable of accepting them for at least another month, and of the stores not signing on, Ben Franklin is most noticable. Marianne Cochrane, manager at Ben Franklin said, "Weıre just waiting for a little more long-term information."

Both downtown merchants and the College hope that Obie dollars will encourage local sales, as well as making transactions simpler and safer. Students will also not have to bother about carrying cash. However, some students say these advantages are available already.

"I find absolutely no use for them given that I have a debit card," said sophomore Sam Bryar.

There are still technical bumps to overcome. Over 15 local vendors have agreed to accept Obie dollars, but the technology has proved difficult. Each store must pay a fee to the College for the use of the software that allows them to debit the charge off of the studentsı card. Installation of the necessary scanning technology will not be completed until early October and details of reimbursement schedules still need to be ironed out.

For most students dining on CDS, food is already taken care of, but Obie dollars are especially good for people on reduced meal plans or in a co-op, since they can be used at many downtown establishments.

Sophomore Meg Dorman was excited about being able to use Obie dollars to supplement her meal plan. Dorman said, "I was happy to hear about them because I eat in a co-op. This way I can put money on my id to use at DeCafe."

The success of Obie dollars remains to be seen. Continuation of the program relies on volume of use and cost of administration. Said Gross, "If this helps the student instead of having to ask mom and dad directly for money, once the program is working well, we would expect more students and vendors to participate."

Local economic support, convenience and safety are all promised with the new Obie dollar program. But right now it is still getting off the ground, and the actual benefits are still awaited.