THE BATTALION
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1978
Page 5
System takes time, but saves $
ID check breaks down
By KATHRYN GOFF
The check-in computers at cam-
is dinning halls continue to break
own, according to the person in
iia charge of the computers, and sev-
oe iMral students on the board plan. Yet,
left^ Administrative Services Officer
10m Awbrey said that the com-
ore j uters thwart cheaters, and track
nealtime rush-periods for more ef-
:ient meal preparation.
The Validine Corporation-
designed computers are similar in
bncept to price-check computers
fcund at the Memorial Student Cen
ter Bookstore and at supermarkets,
he master computer is connected
several checking terminals, Aw-
jbery said. Like the MSC price-
|heckers, the meal-ticket checkers
■an price bands by means of elec-
Ironic checking wands or glass
dates.
Campus meal tickets are taped on
he back of student ID cards and
onsist of price bands which are
eally student identification num-
lers translated into computerized
lands. Theoretically, a valid meal
Whl icket — one that is paid for, and
ireviously unused for the current
period — will be recognized
nd recorded by the computer. A
icnvalid meal ticket — one that is
mpaid for, or previously used for
e current meal period — will not
scan” on the computer.
In practice, Awbery said, some
pparently valid cards are not ac-
iK epted by the computers. Last fall,
dien the computers were first in-
talled, many students’ board rec-
rds were “wiped out” by the com-
mters, Awbrey said. That meant
hat many students with valid meal
ickets had to receive speical per-
aission to enter the dining hall.
—.ventually, the human readers at
r m e check-in terminals had to exam-
meal tickets
At another instance, the com-
s “jJ inters failed to “change over” their
. chedules during the' weekend, Aw-
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301 PATRICIA
846-7401
bery said. Students were credited
with eating three meals on Satur
day, even though the meals were
eaten on the Friday before. A major
failure last semester was paid for by
Validine Corporation, Awbrey said.
Sophomore Robert Navarro, who
eats at Sibisa, said he has noticed
the frequent breakdowns.
“They’ve been working fine until
the past two weeks,” Navarro said.
“Before that I can’t remember them
working for more than a couple of
days. ”
Becki Kidd, senior, says she
thinks the lines would go more
quickly if the meal tickets were
checked visually, not electronically.
Her meal ticket failed to scan on at
least two occasions. The reader sent
her ID number to the office, and
allowed Kidd to eat.
Awbrey said that whenever a
meal ticket doesn’t clear or a person
claims to have lost an ID card, he
allows the student to eat anyway.
Ann Griffin, a checker at Sbisa,
said that a meal ticket may fail to
clear the computer because the
price bands are damaged. ID cards
that are laundered in a pants pocket
often become limber, causing the
meal ticket to warp. The tape attach
ing the meal ticket to the ID card
can easily be damaged through
every day wear and tear, Griffin
said, making the meal ticket incapa
ble of clearing by the computer.
Awbrey said cheating has de
creased since the computers were
installed. Fewer people claim to
have lost their ID cards, because
the computers can reveal that “lost”
ID cards are still begin cleared
through the computers, Awbrey
said.
Also, if the computer records bear
evidence that a person’s meal ticket
is being used by somebody else,
then that particular meal ticket will
be canceled, and another issued to
the rightful ticket bearer, Awbrey
said. f—
Last year’s meal ticket, which
consisted of a small gold seal, could
easily be transferred from one ID
card to another. The current meal
ticket, with its fragile price bands,
would not clear if transferred to-
another card. Awbrey said that he
has tried to “cheat” the computers
by transfering meal tickets, but has
failed.
The black market for illegally
applied meal tickets must have
plunged as a result, Awbrey said. A
dining hall employee overheard a
conversation last year at a local
Northgate store in which a young
woman openly peddled illegally
transferred meal tickets. The
woman couldn’t sell meal tickets
easily this year, Awbrey said, be
cause stickers would be extremely
difficult to remove without being
damaged.
Awbrey said he couldn’t tell just
how many students have eaten il
legally last year. Yet, according to a
Validine survey, the national rate of
illegal eating in dining halls is two
percent, Awbrey said. He specu
lated that illegal eating rate at Texas
A&M could be lower because of the
relative conservatism of the stu
dents. About five students a day try
to get into the dining halls illegally,
but fail.
Awbrey said that computers were
installed to track meal-time flows so
that food preparation can be timed
to meet diner demand. Even
though he couldn’t say whether the
computers are saving money, he
said that one area in which the com-
f inters would be economically justi-
iable is in designing efficiency re
ports in meal preparation. This
could be done from meal ticket
clearance records.
However, money the computer
saves through more efficient food
preparation or reduced cheating
would not lower the price of board
because the price of food and the
minimum wage requirement are ris
ing, Awbrey said.
Awbrey said he would like to have
more readers at the terminals, be
cause the lines are still slow-
moving. All four checking stalls are
seldom open at once. Awbrey said
he would also like to see the meal
tickeprice band placed on front of
the ID card because the readers
would then take less time checking
cards.
Campus Activities
Thursday
CAM AC, Leonel Castillo, director of
U.S. Immigration 6c Naturalization,7:30
p.m., 206 MSC
National Eagle Scout Association, or
ganizational meeting, 7:30 p.m., 701 Rud
der Tower
El Paso Hometown Club, 7:30 p.m.,
203 MSC
Snow Ski Club, 7:30 p.m., 701 Rudder
Dance Arts Society, modem jazz, 7:30
p.m., 266 G. Rollie
Modern Languages, “Baroque Con
cert,” 8 p.m.. Rudder Theater
Aggie Players, “A Streetcar Named
Desire,” 8 p.m.. Rudder Forum
Friday
Baseball, Houston vs. Texas A&M, 3
p.m., Travis Park
Aggie Players, “A Streetcar Named
Desire,” 8 p.m.. Rudder Forum
Aggie Cinema, “7 Percent Solution,” 8
p.m., Rudder Theater and “Slapshot,” 12
midnight. Rudder Auditorium
Saturday
Baseball, Houston vs. Texas A&M, 1
p.m., Travis Paik
TAMU’s men’s soccer, SMU vs. A&M,
2 p. m., soccer field north of Olsen baseball
stadium
Aggie Players, “A Streetcar Named De
sire,” 8 p.m.. Rudder Forum
Military Ball, 8 p.m.. Exhibit Hall
Aggie Cinema, “7 Percent Solution,” 8
p.m.. Rudder Auditorium
Management Society, wine & cheese-
party, 8 p.m., Treehouse Apartments
party nxim
Sunday
Aggie Cinema, Comedy Orgy, 2 p.m..
Rudder Theater
TAMU’s men’s soccer, UT vs. A&M, 2
p.m., soccer field north of Olsen baseball
stadium >
Oat researcher’s meeting
to be at A&M March 20-22
About 100 persons are expected
here March 20-22 for the American
Oat Workers’ Conference, a series
of meetings designed to improve oat
production through discussion and
dissemination of research informa
tion.
Dr. M.E. McDaniel, cereal crops
breeding specialist with the Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station,
said this is the first time the event
has ever been held at Texas A6cM
University. The oat researchers
meet every four years.
The first session begins at 8:30
a.m. Monday in Room 301 of Rud
der Tower. Dr. Neville Clarke, Ex
periment Station director, will give
the welcome address. The Experi
ment Station is the state’s agricul
tural research agency.
McDaniel, an associate professor
in the A&M Soil and Crop Sciences
Department, said first-day topics
will cover management and eco
nomic aspects of oat production,
disease and insect control, breeding
for resistance to environmental
stress, altering physiological traits
of plants and projecting an oat
ideotype.
Second-day discussions involve
research needs on oat viruses, qual
ity and future use, germplasm use
and documentation, and coopera
tion between state experiment sta
tions and the Science and Education
Administration.
Distinguished service awards will
be presented at 6:30 that evening
during a banquet.
Rounding out the final day’s ac
tivities will be uniform oat nursery
reports, a business meeting and re
ports from visiting foreign scientists.
McDaniel said the conference
ends with a 1:30 p.m. tour of oat
rust nurseries near Beeville.
CORSAGES FOR
THE MILITARY BALL
10% off on corsages with student I.D.
The Green Jungle
700 E. University Drive • 846-3778 ^
(Across from Fed Mart) • Complete Floral Service
‘S'uitey
travel 846-3773
Qbc) INTERSTATE CINEMA I arm ||
r UNIVERSITY SQUARE'
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7:35
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A Carl Reiner Film
HENRY
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Sat.Sun 3:00,5:05
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including
BEST PICTURE
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Paramount Ptcturw Ptevnt* A 1*41 Anuti Production
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$1
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paper
TONIGHT 4-8:30 P.M.
GABE & WALKER’S
Off ’th Wall Bar-B-Q
ph: 846-7390
’round the comer from Campus Theater
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We’ll be on campus next week
to talk about careers
r in energy.
The energy challenge can lead to a
rewarding career for you. Let us
provide you with the opportunity.
We’re researching new energy
sources, initiating computer appli
cations, seeking better ways to pro
tect the environment, and utilizing
innovative transmission techniques.
If you’ll be graduating in one of the
following areas, come discuss your
future with us.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Contact your Placement Office for details, or write:
Arizona Public Service Company
P.O. Box 21666
Phoenix, Arizona 85036
An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F
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JfflS
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Skyway Twin
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PLUS
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WOMEN FOR SALE
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TEENAGER FOR SALE
Campus
COLLEGE STATION
1
JOSEPH
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THE
CHOIRBOYS
ALL SEATS $1.50
BOOK MART CUSTOMERS
ATTENTION!
You can pick up your
book or your money
Monday, Feb. 27 - Mar. 3
8 a.m.-12, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Room 216 MSC
3715 EAST 21th STiueT (711) 84<»-fc7 II
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Also includes:
• Round trip jet transportation on Southern Airways
DC-9
• Airport ground transportation to hotel
• Savings up to $100 per person
• Complimentary tennis
• World’s most spectacular diving with optional packages
at discount rates
• Deluxe honeymoon package available
• Plus much, much more!
Call for reservations or information
O ‘Seven/.etf SxcUey
travel 846-3773
FOOTBALL BUSING
SURVEY
Please check the appropriate box.
1. Do you live off campus?
2. I would be willing to ride a
special bus from near my
residence to home football
games if available.
3. I would be willing to pay for this
service.
4. I would be willing to pay up to:
(check the highest amount)
yes
□
l l yes
l l yes
□
□
□
no
no
no
,50c
$1.50
□ yes □
$1.00
$2.00
no
5. I would be willing to use a
special bus for midnight yell
practice if available.
6. I would prefer to pay for this service
at registration time
when I pick up my football ticket
only at game time
OCSA is considering several different methods of financ
ing and routing the buses, and the survey is designed to
measure student opinion on these methods. The surveys can
be found and returned, or you can use the one in the Batt,
to all the shuttlebus stops, first floor of the MSC, and Room
216 in the MSC.