One popular student-run business at the University of Massachusetts is not allowed to let its customers use their YCMP (Your Campus Meal Plan) swipes, and the customers and staff of the People's Market are asking why.
YCMP swipes can be used at a variety of eateries on campus, including some student-run businesses. These swipes are used frequently by many students that have the meal plans to allow them to do so. With some meal plans suited for undergraduates like the Value Meal Plan that costs $1663.50 a semester, students receive 224 meals and only seven meal exchanges (YCMP swipes). Other plans suited for graduate or commuter students, like the Gold Meal Plan that costs $875, allows the purchaser 100 meal exchanges per semester.
Each meal exchange swipe equals $7.25 worth of food or drink, totaling $725 worth of food or drink for the paid price of $875. From these expensive rates, students want to get their money's worth. That means most students are reserving their meals for the dining commons and eateries on campus that take YCMP swipes.
The People's Market is a student-run business located in the Student Union. According to the co-manager, Rachel Mandel, the Market is close to celebrating its 35th anniversary.
The Market is a distributor of all-natural and fresh food and supports the fair-trade system. It provides students a place to eat healthily and offers a variety of food and drink that includes herbal tea, gourmet coffee, assortment of cheeses, fruit, assortment of bagels, cold drinks, sandwiches and more.
For years, the staff of the People's Market has been attempting to get the attention of the Center for Student Business. The CSB is a council consisting of 12 people, mainly business students, including one director that oversees policy and procedure development of the student-run businesses on campus. The Market wants to make some compromise to install the right for its customers to use their YCMP swipes.
"In the past, previous workers worked hard to write proposals to the CSB," said Mandel. "In return, CSB just gave us verbal responses, simply saying no."
Claims have been made that the Market is a snack shop that fails to deliver the hearty meals. Representatives of UMass Dining Services or of CSB gave no response to the claims.
"People's Market is classified by the University as a snack market, but we offer hearty food and drink items that can consist of a meal," said Chris Hall, a co-manger at People's Market.
In recent years, the People's Market has faced some tough competition. Specifically, it is the café in the W.E.B. Du Bois library, Procrastination Station. This café, which happens to be in the realm of eateries that use YCMP swipes, offers the same kind of foods, but with far less choices than the People's Market.
Other student-run businesses that offer YCMP swipes include the Greenough Sub Shop in the Central Residential Area, Sweets-n-More in Orchard Hill and the Sylvan Snack Bar in Sylvan.
Currently, the People's Market is issuing a campaign that is asking for the help of the public. The Market is trying to get signatures from students and has so far gained close to 200 within the first week.
Joe Stahl can be reached at jstahl@student.umass.edu.
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