Why remove VTS?

Bulldog Bucks inconveniencies students by changing their old policy.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

That is what comes to mind when Bulldog Bucks announced that the Value Transfer Stations, similar to ATMs that banks use, were being taken down. However, students can still make cash deposits in the Bulldog Bucks office in person or use their debit/credit cards to make online deposits.

A representative from Bulldog Bucks says that by taking down the VTS, students will be able to “[f]ocus all cash deposits to Student Accounts.” Bulldog Bucks doesn’t provide the reasons why the VTS are being taken down. Also, Bulldog Bucks does not collaborate with Students Accounts, when it comes to fees and tuition.

With the elimination of the VTS, students will have to travel to the either Bulldog Bucks office next to the University bookstore or the Bursar’s office downtown if they wish to pay in cash, instead of the various locations where the VTS used to be.

By taking down the VTS, many students are inconvenienced, especially when making online deposits, since the minimum deposit is $10. That amount of money may not seem like such a big deal to freshmen and others living at the dorms, who regularly use Bulldog Bucks for laundry, food, and printing services. But, for upperclassmen, $10 is a big amount of money for those who only wish to use their ID card for the 5 cent printing services.

Sure, the Bulldog Bucks office claims that Bulldog Bucks can be used in many locations in Athens, but I’m sure that many students would rather pay with cash or their credit cards.

So, with a parting note to the Bulldog Bucks office, bring back the Value Transfer Stations!

- Chris Ra for the editorial board.