Ball State University students and faculty can once again save money at Muncie businesses through the Student Government Association sponsored Student Savings Club.
SGA President Betsy Mills said the club provides good discounts and is an easy thing to get because all students and faculty have to do is show their Ball State IDs at the time of purchase.
"[Items include] everything from haircuts to tanning to cell phones to hotels. It's just a really good idea," she said.
Chandra Kollipara, manager of the Best Western Muncie hotel on Bethel Avenue, said he wanted to be a part of the promotion because he wanted to contribute his part to the Ball State community. He said being a part of the Student Savings Club was not only a good business decision, but also said it was because he appreciated what Ball State was doing to try to get students to Muncie. "We have to work to keep going," Kollipara said. "We will try everything we need to do to keep it going."
Best Western Muncie offers Ball State students 15 percent off its room rate, Kollipara said.
Adam Fritsch, manager of Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake on McGalliard Road, said his business got involved because the owner wanted to start doing more promotions with Ball State and this was an opportunity to do that. Although his business does not get a lot of students coming in, Fritsch said, he does see more faculty using the service.
"It definitely helps most businesses," he said. "For us, it's a teeter-totter because a lot of the students want delivery and we don't [have delivery, and] in dorms they don't use ovens often."
Papa Murphy's offers $2 off any regular priced family size pizza, Fritsch said.
This year 32 businesses are participating in the Student Savings Club, according to the club's Web site. Twenty-seven joined last year, according to previous articles.
Previous articles also said business owners were upset with the savings club because of billing errors, lack of student participation and disrespectful representatives, but Mills said she thinks all those issues have been resolved.
Mills said she is encouraging senators to let their constituents and friends know about the promotion so the information can be spread through conversations. Senators and residence halls also have brochures and campus-wide e-mails are being sent to let students know about the Student Savings Club, she said.
"[The club] judges how well it's going by the hits on its Web site, and Ball State has gotten a lot of hits so that's how they know it's been successful," Mills said. "It's a good idea, and all we want students to do is utilize them."
If there is a business not on the list that should be added please e-mail support@studentsavingsclub.com
Here is a list of a few other businesses that are participating in the Student Savings Club:
Carlos O'Kelly's Mexican Cafe 511 W. McGalliard Road
Pizza Hut 2601 N. Wheeling Ave.
Papa John's Pizza 2714 N. Wheeling Ave. and 2123 S. Madison Ave.
First Wok 3802 W. Bethel Ave.
Liberty Bowl 1115 S. Liberty St.
Midas Auto Service Experts 1901 N. Broadway
Enterprise Rent-A-Car 3415 W. Fox Ridge Lane
Days Inn 3509 N. Everbrook Lane
New Image Hair Care 503 S. Tillotson Ave.
Sun Kiss Tanning 1601 W. McGalliard Road
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