Best of WSU: Spending dining dollars wisely

Being a new student in a new environment can be overwhelming. There are many questions and things students may not understand. One in particular is what are dining dollars, how does it work and where can students use it. First, there are numerous places on campus that offer a wide variety of food. There are even places off campus that allow students to use their dining dollars or flex dollars.

According to wrightstatedinning.com, dining dollars are money on a Wright1 card that students pay along with their admission to Wright State. For this school year $1463 dollars per semester is put on the card. Two hundred and three dollars goes toward dining services to pay for debt incurred in remodeling dining facilities, to pay expenses, to buy kitchen equipment and furniture and for any maintenance. Students have access to $1260. Money not used will carry over to the next semester. After spring sem

ester, however, it will not, so it is important to use it all before then.

Places on Campus to dine include: The Union Market (second floor Student Union), The Hanger (first floor Allyn Hall), The Wright Cup (second floor Student Union), The Wright Café (first floor Dunbar library), The Bridge Café (Honors Hall) and the C-Store (Honors Hall).

At the Union Market, students can find Simply to Go, which includes fast grab and go sandwiches and salads already pre-wrapped. Salvador Deli, which specializes in Panini sandwiches and Napoleons, which offers desserts. Chef’s Kitchen serves homemade classics and On the Barbie has freshly grilled or fired cheeseburgers, chicken breasts and grilled chicken. Also the Union Market features Herbs and Bisque (Salad Bar), Formaggos (pizza and calzones) and Nachomamas (Burritos, steak tacos, etc).

At the Hanger students can enjoy Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Skyline Chili, Runaway Deli and Harvest Hills Bakery. The Wright Cup features items such as smoothies, simply to go sandwiches, sushi, Oregon Chai Tea, Sobe drinks, coffee and more.

The C-Store, located in a residential Hall, is where students can find toiletry items such as soap, deodorant and laundry detergent. They can also buy ice cream, microwavable dinners and sandwiches from the Salvador Deli Express.

The Bridge Café is located above the workout room, next to the C-Store. At the Bridge Café treats include: desserts, smoothies and ice cream. Here students can mingle with friends at the tables and booths, watch cable TV or listen to others play piano.

Places off-campus that honor Wright State’s dining dollars are Donatos and Marco’s Pizza. As a student living on campus, delivery cars driving around will become the norm. Donatos is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., a single topping medium pizza is around $10. Both stores regularly give coupons and specials to customers.

“The Union has the best food and prices and off campus the best cheap place is Steak and Shake and Frisch’s,” said sophomore Shayla Peake.

Dining dollars are a great asset to being a student at Wright State, but it must be spent wisely. Many non-first time Wright State students agree that the money can go very quickly.

“I would tell freshman not to let people use their dining dollars or to buy things with it. Instead, buy the things that you need, not what you want,” said Peake. She also mentioned that the amount of dining dollars given to students is good if they only buy necessities.

Wright state doesn’t just offer students a meal plan, but also gives them a chance to put cash, credit or debit on their Wright1 card, which is called Flex Dollars. Flex Dollars can be used at the following locations around campus: Arby’s, Gigi’s Cupcakes, the College Store, Wright Image Salon, Tropical Smoothie, Dominoes, Frisch’s, Romeo’s Pizza, Wise Guys,  Hardies, Hot Heads, Quakers Steak, Penn Station, Subway, Quizznos, Papa John’s Pizza, Marco’s, Donatos, Jets and NY Pizza oven.

Traveling to the many places on campus mentioned in this article, students will see many other students eating at these establishments. More than half of those students will have a meal plan and be spending dining dollars. It is important to always have your Wright1 card with you and to never lose it. Here at Wright State you don’t have to live a life of Ramen Noodles!

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