Save a dollar
Businesses to offer student discounts
Griffin McElroy
Posted: 3/6/07

Many local businesses may start offering discounts and promotions to Marshall students as early as the fall 2007 semester.

Student body president Ben Sandy came up with the plan to organize a student discount program before his term in office even started.

"We sought out to create a discount program this past summer, but we had too few people working on it, and it just wasn't a success," Sandy said.

Sandy's plan was to implement a program that would organize local businesses to provide a discount to Marshall students with a valid MU ID. The businesses Sandy had contacted varied from Jolly Pirate Donuts to Cowboy Chris' Western Wear and Gifts. However, because of a lack of correspondence between businesses and the SGA members helping to organize the program, the plan fell through.

However, Student Savings Club, an independent, third party organization, has volunteered its services to Marshall to establish a discount program with local businesses for free. The organization has created similar discount programs in college towns across the country.

Sandy said an organization like this is perfect for Marshall.

"I worried about leaving office in the summer, and then the next president would have to call around for businesses to rally participation in the program. But now, the Student Savings Club will do it year round," Sandy said.

The organization's Web site, complete with listings of discount programs in all participating colleges, can be visited at www.studentsavingsclub.com.

Sandy said he was excited at the prospect of local businesses offering deals to students.

"I think the program will provide discounts to students for years to come," Sandy said. "I'll be a grad student next year, and I plan on using it a lot.