Many students now can leave their wallets and purses at home and simply bring their Tiger Cards to University basketball games.
Students who either have TigerCASH or Paw Points now can use their Tiger Card not only to get into the student section but also to pay for concessions.
Contracted Auxiliary Services, the department in charge of the Tiger Card Office, Concessions, LSU Dining, LSU Bookstore and LSU Vending, is continuing a variety of improvements through the spring semester.
The newest improvement within CAS is an upgrade for the Tiger Card, giving students the ability to use both TigerCASH and Paw Points at the PMAC for all home basketball games.
Students with money on their card can use it at the three concessions stands closest to the student section in the PMAC.
The Tiger Card already was available for use at Tiger Stadium concessions stands last fall, but it was not widely advertised.
CAS plans to advertise the newest ways to use the card with advertisements in The Reveille and fliers in residence halls.
Jason Tolliver, CAS associate director and Tiger Card manager, said the department upgraded to the Tiger Card system last fall because of several internal problems and an abundance of student complaints with the old system, Tiger Express.
“People didn’t trust the system last year,” said CAS Director Mark Kraner. “Since we implemented the new system, it really hasn’t been down once. We’re trying to rebuild confidence in the system.”
In past seasons, Tiger Express, but not Paw Points, could be used to purchase concessions in Tiger Stadium. Next fall, students will be able to use both TigerCASH, the replacement for Tiger Express, and Paw Points in the student section concessions stands.
Tolliver said the department made the changes and improvements to the system, including those at athletic events, in direct response to students’ complaints and suggestions.
“I think students will be surprised at the aggressive manner in which we plan to use [their input] in order to meet their needs,” Tolliver said.
The department has future plans to work with Student Government to create a student advisory committee to continue receiving direct feedback.
Kraner said based on the rising number of TigerCASH usage, students definitely have noticed a difference with the new system.
In the fall of 2002, 1,718 patrons spent a total of $10,314.46 in Paw Points and 3,628 patrons spent $21,017.78 in TigerCASH at the Tiger Stadium concessions stands.
At this point in the basketball season, only 42 patrons have spent $264.90 in Paw Points and 62 patrons have spent $412.38 in TigerCASH at the concessions stands in the PMAC.
Tolliver said he expects the numbers from the PMAC to rise considerably after students return to campus and advertising increases.
Statistics show students using their ID cards at the concessions stands are spending an average of $6 per purchase.
The department also is looking into expanding Tiger Card capabilities to outside sports such as baseball and track and field.
In addition, by the end of the semester, 43 existing campus copy machines will be equipped with TigerCASH capabilities, and 15 brand new machines will be added.
Also, 100 soft drink machines and at least 57 snack machines will have card readers on them. Many of these will be concentrated in residential areas of campus.
CAS also is working to renovate each of the campus dining facilities during the next 48 to 60 months.
Kraner said one of the department’s main concerns is the future of Highland Dining Hall.
In the campus Master Plan, the University has designated the current location of the cafeteria as the location for a new parking garage.
“If they’re looking at having a parking garage there in four years, we need to be out in three,” Kraner said.
The department is planning to make the necessary adjustments to comply with the Master Plan and possibly will renovate the Laville Food Emporium to accommodate the cafeteria.