Student ID benefits are not created equal
Sean Hermann and Aaron Geiger
Issue date: 10/21/09 Section: News
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Correction: there are many perks when you have a University of Illinois student ID, and not as many having a Parkland College student ID.
Granted, University students pay enormous student fees. With those fees, students gain access to legal help, membership to some world-class gyms, special funding, emergency deans, and amazing student organizational opportunities. But there is a sticking point that sits sour with Parkland students, and that is the lack of equality when it comes to getting student discounts from local businesses.
It's not unusual for Parkland students to be denied "student discounts" when it comes to local businesses catering to the University students.
Blues BBQ on campus offers 10% off of a purchase of $5.00 or more to i-Card holders only. Classic Tan offers a free month of tanning with the purchase of an unlimited membership to i-Card holders only. Culver's offers a 10% discount on all purchases to you guessed it, i-Card holders only. Even the family friendly Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch has an exclusive deal with i-Card and refuses to make a deal for Parkland students.
"I really hated it when I would see a [University] student get discounts at restaurants, and then I couldn't do the same thing with my [Parkland] ID," said Daniel Morris, a former Parkland student.
The University has a Web site devoted to businesses that cater to students, featuring local stores, restaurants, boutiques and car maintenance shops. Students need only possess an "i-Card," which is the same thing as having a student ID. Although some businesses cater to students from both schools, many of them do not, or are inconsistent on how they treat different students.
"There should be some equality," said Jun Lee, a University student. "I don't see why one place would prefer to do business with one type of student instead of another."
But with Parkland IDs, there is no definitive Web site or conglomeration of sources that tell students what perks they get with their card.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Dont worry about it
posted 10/21/09 @ 6:50 PM CST
Well of course a Parkland ID card doesn't go as far as an I Card. There is a higher tuition price so they deserve the discounts. Not to mention it's a 4 year university were as Parkland is a community college. (Continued…)
tyson
posted 10/21/09 @ 8:31 PM CST
i think the story already said that there is a big difference between u of i and parkland and student fees. i thought the story was neat because it wasn't trying to make a big deal out of the id thing. (Continued…)
ahwareham
ahw
posted 10/22/09 @ 10:02 AM CST
I completely understand why we don't get perks such as free games, medical services, gym memberships, etc--we as Parkland students are not paying for those things, while U of I students are. (Continued…)
MTD:
posted 10/22/09 @ 10:16 AM CST
I think you guys should write more about the bus system. I realize that UI students pay for their bus pass with student fees. I also realize that there are thousands more students that need to get around campus but I think that Parkland should have free bus passes, incorporated into their fees, and that Parkland should have more services in the evening. (Continued…)
hermannater24
Sean
posted 10/22/09 @ 2:53 PM CST
Thanks for the input everyone, much appreciated!
Jodi
posted 11/15/09 @ 10:14 AM CST
I think that this was a great idea for an article. However, I think that one point that has not been made yet is that the main reason that the local businesses should offer the Parkland students discounts is because it is a good marketing practice to do this. (Continued…)
Marva
posted 11/23/09 @ 5:18 PM CST
If Parkland students wanted to be treated better and not appear to be ashamed of attending a less expensive community college which has better teacher-student ratios, just as good as if not better teachers, then the students have to begin advocating for almost equal treatment such as passes to ride the buses. (Continued…)
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