BUSINESS STORY: Kerbey Lane Rejects Bevo Bucks as Form of Payment, Upsetting Student Clientele
December 3, 2014
After
being open for 14 years, Kerbey Lane has decided to no longer accept University
of Texas’ Bevo Bucks as a method of payment.
Bevo
Bucks, named after the school mascot, are one of UT’s payment plans students
can enroll in. Bevo Bucks can be purchased online, converting one’s student ID
into a pre-paid card which can be used on campus and on most surrounding
locations such as CVS on Guadalupe Street. More than 50,000 students have benefitted
from the program by receiving a 10% discount when eating at the university’s
dining halls and no longer needing to carry around wads of cash and other
cards.
“It
really upsets me that Kerbey would do that,” Shaguna Joshi said. Joshi is a
second year business student at UT-Austin. “As a freshman, Bevo Bucks are
really important to us and I don’t think we could have maintained my friends’
‘Kerbey Thursdays’ tradition without having Bevo Bucks. I hate that they would
separate themselves form the university in this way.”
Employees,
who interact more with students than those of the corporate level do, explain
that students seem both surprised and discontent at the company’s new decision.
Billy Nguyen, a UT student and Kerbey Lane employee since August, said that
some students are so disappointed, they have stopped tipping the waiters.
“There
has been a wide range of reactions, from incredibly chill, to shock, to angry,”
Nguyen says. “Most students seem pretty okay with it but they are still bummed
out. I had this one guy causing me such grief I just had a manager explained it
to him. He just wouldn’t believe me.”
Since
its campus location opening, Kerbey Lane has established a very flexible,
student-oriented culture as it became one of the few places to serve breakfast
at all hours, continually seat large parties throughout the night, display
student artwork, host a staff comprised mainly of students, and until very
recently, accept Bevo Bucks. One would assume that this sudden change in
payment procedures would affect the company’s success. Michael Jackson, Kerbey
Lane’s Vice President of Operations offers a different explanation.
“We
do not have an accurate way to measure the student traffic,” Jackson says.
“However, we have not notice any decline in sales or guest count as a result of
no longer accepting Bevo Bucks.”
Alison
Kothe is the marketing coordinator of the Division of Housing and Food Services
at UT-Austin. She explains that the program began roughly 14 years ago and
since then has over 130 different vendors.
“Kerbey
Lane has been a long time Bevo Bucks vendor and we’ve worked really closely
with them as they switch their point-of-sale system,” Kothe says. “With this
new system they were having problems accepting Bevo Bucks. We lose and gain
lots of different vendors all the time. Kerbey is just one where we hear
students say most that they wish they accepted them.”
Kothe
also explains that in 2013 alone, more than $3,000,000 were spent in Bevo
Bucks. Sales have continued to increase at a steady rate. In August of this
year, over $2,000,000 were added to the program.
Other
companies along the drag find that Bevo Bucks have helped them be increasingly
successful given the location and higher levels of student traffic. Potbelly, a
popular sandwich shop found near 24th street, has experienced great
success with the Bevo Bucks program.
“I know a few students who completely blew through their Bevo Bucks
on Potbelly alone,” Ravyn
Silva said. Silva is a student at UT Austin and a Potbelly employee. “A good
number of students come in and that’s what they use.”
LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORY: AISD
To Follow School Districts in Providing Epi-Pens At All Times
November 12, 2014
In
2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study
indicating that the amount of food allergies among children increased by
roughly 50% in between 1997 and 2011. Most Texas school districts have always recognized
the importance of epinephrine pens and their benefits; however Austin
Independent School District is only now considering implementation.
In
September, AISD’s School Health Advisory Council began a conversation regarding
the inclusion of epinephrine pens in all schools in the district. As the
district is partnering with Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, board members
feel that food allergy training should be expanded and the administering of certain
tools, such as the EPI-pen, should be added to the school’s health policy.
“Most
allergic reactions that occur in the school day are unexpected,” Vivian
Ballard, chairwoman of SHAC, said. “Because of this, students are not prepared
with their own pens when they need them. I think it would be great to have
them.”
On Nov.
5, SHAC held their monthly meeting where they discussed the issue in greater
detail. Many council members expressed concern regarding the actual
administering of the pen, as many schools do not have full-time nurses. Ballard
responded by explaining that the pen, one that is not prescribed for specific
child and available to all who require it, does not need to be administered by
a medical official. In fact, every school in AISD maintains two unlicensed
personnel at any school’s front desk who are trained in basic medical
procedures such as emergency plans, CPR, and epi-pen processes. These staff
members are available to the students at any hour of the school day.
Kristin
Knifton, president of Kealing Middle School’s Parent Teacher Association and
AISD parent, also supported the implementation of this tool.
“I
think it’s a really good idea. I also work part time as a teacher and it would
make me feel a lot better just knowing that we have that sort of thing on
hand,” Knifton said. “I knew a girl who was allergic to bees and had an
EPI-pen. My own kids have never been stung so I don’t even know what I would
do. But the school would with a pen. The benefits would definitely outweigh the
risks.”
Though
the addition of epinephrine pens is new to AISD schools, other school districts
have previous experience with this type of service and have made the EPI-pen a
part of their schools’ health policies. Eanes ISD, which includes schools
located in west Austin adjacent to AISD, has even expanded this service beyond
school grounds.
“Students are eligible (through the 504
Program) for special transportation services with a bus monitor who can carry
and administer epinephrine,” Marilyn Sansom wrote in a letter to parents that
was published on Eanes Elementary school webpage. Sansom is the registered
nurse of the school.
Also in Eanes Independent School District, Westlake
High School takes on a similar approach, keeping a full supply of epinephrine
close at hand.
“We also keep stock epinephrine in the nurses office
in case of an emergency,” Westlake’s nurse, Holly Hubbell, writes to the
school’s parents on her webpage. “If there is an allergic reaction at school,
we will notify the parents immediately. If we must give Epinephrine, please
know that we will always call 911 and then the parents.”
Alongside EISD, Houston Independent School District
has also included epinephrine maintenance and administration in their handbook.
The district requires licensed staff members, such as coaches and other onsite individuals
in charge of after-school activities, to maintain a current epinephrine
auto-injector in an easily-accessed location at all times. In addition, HISD has
a thorough outline of training programs for school personnel to administer
epinephrine by auto-injector in life-threatening cases. The goal of these
programs is stated in the HISD set of guidelines, under “Managing Life
Threatening Food Allergies in Schools.”
“To provide unlicensed school personnel with basic
knowledge and skills to administer epinephrine by auto-injector in a
life-threatening situation,” is the goal found in Appendix E of the HISD online
handbook explaining the district’s procedures. Duchesne Academy, a private K-12
school in Houston, follows HISD guidelines when it comes to health services and
policies.
“We actually require students to have their own
epinephrine and they must have the product registered with the school nurse,”
Duchesne Academy’s nurse Lyn Shivshanker says. “But we do follow HISD
guidelines and therefore have epinephrine available.”
AISD
is the 5th largest independent school district in the state, with
more than 86,000 students enrolled and following Houston, Dallas,
Cypress-Fairbanks, and North Side. Though there has not been a deadline set for
the district to vote on whether EPI-pens are to be included in each school in
the district, SHAC members have made it a priority to keep this potential policy
on the agenda until approved.
CRIME STORY: Students in West Campus Prove Creative When It Comes to Self Defense
October 15, 2014
Angelica Novegil, 19, a second year student at the University of Texas at Austin, joined 7,000+ other students in the move-in process on a late August afternoon. Like her classmates, she packed the essentials; comforter, pillows, a backpack, and a Taser.
“When
I moved out of my parent’s house, my dad decided to buy me a Taser along with
all my sisters,” Novegil wrote in an email. “He’s a bit overprotective and
worries a little too much but he felt more comfortable giving me something I
could defend myself with. It does help me feel a little more secure when I go
out at night because it has a loud alarm and flashlight as well.”
It
is no secret that Texas is proud of it’s right to bear arms and UT-Austin offers
countless services for student safety. However, students are considering
protection to be more of a personal responsibility. For many, this
responsibility does not include a concealed weapon’s license and is forcing
them to be much more creative.
Ravi
Mehta, another student at UT-Austin who currently lives in West Campus, has
dealt with this dilemma personally. His house has been broken into once before
and the only response uttered by the police at the scene was clearly,
“If
you had owned a gun, you could have shot him because he was on your property.”
Moms Demand Action is group that is part of
the “non-partisan movement of Americans demanding reasonable solutions to
address our nation’s culture of gun violence,” according to their Facebook
profile. Its goal is to save lives, and is crafted from the perspective of
mothers who have had personal encounters with gun violence.
“We
believe common-sense solutions can help decrease the escalating epidemic of gun
violence that kills too many of our children and loved ones every day,” MDA
states in their website’s homepage. “Whether the gun violence happens in urban
Chicago, suburban Virginia, or rural Texas, we must act now on new and stronger
gun laws and policies to protect our children.”
However,
many believe that teaching the youth about the importance of guns as their
primary source of self-defense is the most effective way to reduce crime. CATI,
Come and Take It Austin is a movement that promotes the active education of
Texans about their rights to bear firearms in public.
“To
conduct open carry events in a manner that will communicate to the modern
citizenry that the presence of guns does not cause violence, and that citizens
who choose to carry guns are not a threat to the public,” CATI-Austin writes on
their Facebook profile page as part of their mission statement. “To reduce tension and further promote our
mission for Texans to openly carry firearms freely and without interference.”
Though
many argue for the effectiveness of bearing arms as the best method of
self-defense, one must keep in mind the regulations of each individual
apartment complex around UT-Austin’s campus. At 2400 Nueces, a building housing
over 1,000 UT-Austin students, states clearly in its handbook that weaponry is
not permitted.
“Firearms,
ammunition, fireworks, explosives, highly flammable materials, weapons,
projectile devices, guns or knives, or any other weapon or material or
instrument which poses a risk of damage or injury is strictly prohibited and a
violation of the law.”
According
to the University’s policy, students are not encouraged to carry weapons in
public, as it may constitute violent behavior.
“Displaying
a weapon or an object which appears to be a weapon in a threatening manner;
carrying a firearm of any kind onto University owned or controlled property
(except those permitted by state law or University policy),” the UT-handbook
states as prohibited behavior.
Kenneth
Slattery, 75, is a non-commissioned security officer who keeps watch at front
desk of 2400 Nueces. Slattery said that though he reports incidents once a
month at most, there is still danger to be wary of.
“At
any moment, a jokester could come through the door and all hell could break
lose. Unfortunately the danger is there, there are several non-commissioned
security officers killed every year.”
Given
the high occupancy of the apartment building and the strict lease, Slattery
offers an alternative for a gun or Taser.
“In
your apartment, go for wasp spray,” Slattery said. “The reason for that is
pepper spray is effective for about only four feet, wasp spray does the same
damage from 20 feet away. You don’t want to get close to the person who is
attacking you.”
FEATURE STORY: Campus Candy Shuts Down and Shocks Students
October 10, 2014
Campus Candy, a crowded yogurt bar on Guadalupe Street, disappointed patrons early this summer when it posted improvised “closed” signs on it’s front doors and offered no explanations.
Lindsay
Kelley, a third year student majoring in radio-television-film at the University
of Texas at Austin and one of many college students, used to frequent the
store.
“When
I first saw the sign on the door, I assumed they were simply renovating,”
Kelley said. “When I realized it was closed for good, I was bummed because my
friend and I used to go there a lot together.”
As
of now, the company has not issued any information about the closing of its
location on Guadalupe Street. One possibility could be related to high rent
costs; however, the regional manager in the corporate office in Bloomington,
Ind., did not return phone calls regarding the issue and local phone number has
been disconnected. The store’s presence on social media has been neglected as
the Facebook profile still displays “Open” hours. The store’s Twitter feed used
to post at least weekly, but the last post was made on May 28,
“Come
check out our awesome froyo flavors today!!! #Seeyousoon,” it reads.
The
closing has affected student organizations as well. Madison Gove, a UT-Austin
student and president of Students For Wema hosted a profit share for the Youth
African Leadership Initiative at Campus Candy earlier this year.
“I
just don’t know why it closed,” Gove said. “It seemed pretty profitable because
it was always packed, so I would assume the owners did not comply with
regulations or just did not want to continue the business.”
Nathan
Smith, a local commercial real estate advisor, offers his perspective. On the
Austin Tenant Advisors blog, Smith wrote about rising rent and its negative
effects on those looking to make profit on The Drag. Apparently, paying rent on
Guadalupe St. has been difficult for many businesses in the past.
“Rents
are very high,” Smith wrote. “There are a lot of different property owners so
retail lease rates can fluctuate to up to $40 per square-feet. In recent times,
over seven restaurants have failed in this area and other retail businesses
experience slow times when school is out.”
Campus Candy’s neighboring locations
have felt similar pressure due to high rental rates. Caffe Medici, another
popular hangout spot for students, has been open for five years but is still
acutely aware of what renting on The Drag entails.
“I believe we rent our space from the
owners of CVS,” said Monica, a Caffe Medici
barista from Amarillo, Texas. “It’s their land. I’m not too sure as to
what we pay but I do know that this is
prime property. I can’t imagine it’s cheap.”
No
one is certain of the company’s or the locale’s future plans. The shop has cut
off all lighting and is surrounded by many of The Drag’s homeless community; a
stark difference when compared to its atmosphere earlier this year.
Chanelle
Gibson, a UT sophomore, followed Campus Candy on Facebook and was also
disappointed in the store’s sudden closing.
“It
was always fully stocked with everything I wanted,” Gibson wrote in an online
message. “Great flavors, nice employees, and a fun atmosphere complete with 90s
boy bands playing over the speakers. Frozen yogurt isn’t that popular where I’m
from. I feel extremely disappointed.”
EVENT STORY: Local theater premieres culmination of 4 year project
September 23, 2014
The Vortex Theatre used interpretive dance, chanting, and live music, to tell an Austin audience Sunday night that in order to change the world, people must act now.
Director
Bonnie Cullum presented her final installment of a five-piece theatrical project
on Sunday, September 7. Her show, “Spirit,” was Cullum’s last attempt to emphasize
the importance of self-awareness and global sustainability.
“We
are currently so isolated as human beings. Things will get worse before they
get better…but there is hope. We just have to change now,” Cullum said.
Cullum
and a few of her fellow grads from the University of Texas at Austin founded
The Vortex in 1988 as a home for more activist, experimental work, which “transgresses
traditional boundaries,” as described by the locale’s website.
“I wanted to produce cutting edge work that
would change the world,” Cullum said.
In
2011, she hung nets over the audience at the premiere of the first show of her four-year
project, “Air.” The following year, Cullum presented “Fire” by hosting the show
outside and “Water” which consisted of flooding the entire stage. “Earth,” in
2013, included hauling 17 tons of dirt into the theater to further express her
message and involve audience interaction.
An
environmentalist at heart, Cullum stresses that inspiration for her ongoing
project stems from Joanna Macy’s concept of “The Great Turning,” which refers
to the anticipated transformation from an age of industrial and technological
growth to one of sustainability. Cullum said that “Spirit” is meant to not only
connect with her audience on a highly personal level, but to also continue
Macy’s legacy.
“Every
human being has some connection to the elements but it is the spirit that
connects us all,” Cullum said. “We want people to grapple with their own
questions… we are not here to answer them for you. With the concept of spirit,
we have to come to terms with our broken parts so that we can become whole.”
The
production of “Spirit” was considered a collaborative effort, as each ensemble
member and crewmember brought material for the script and lyrics. Many members
have performed in multiple Elemental pieces and were excited to see its
culmination in “Spirit.” Melissa Vogt, a ten-year member and managing director
of The Vortex, was excited to portray the role of the antithesis of the story
of “Spirit.”
“I’ve
never really considered myself a ‘Zen’ person,” Vogt admits. “However, getting
to play this darker character gave me insight into my own personal demons,
which I think helped me grow as a whole.”
Vogt
said The Vortex is known among the Austin community for its sci-fi fantasy
productions. Audience members, both old
and new, find this to be one of the most charming qualities of the locale.
“I’ve been coming here for ages,” said Trece,
an audience member from Austin, Texas. “I saw three of the other elemental
pieces and my roommate wrote the music for this one. I absolutely loved it.”
At
Sunday’s show, roughly 40 audience members immersed themselves in the chanting
and spiritual blessings offered to them by the cast of “Spirit, after the song
and dance had ceased. The one act show ended with a short session of communal
meditation held directly on the stage. Though considered to be a more personal
experience, The Vortex’s production of “Spirit” proved that something as unique
as avant-garde theater could be used to start a movement.
“Spirit”
runs at The Vortex until October 4th.
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