Court Street at Ohio University is notorious for the spot where 10,000 to 30,000 partygoers gather each year for one of the biggest Halloween block parties in the nation. People from across the country, including celebrities, arrive in uptown Athens to join college students to have the time of their lives. Although Court Street is infamous for hosting over eighteen bars and wild parties, it is also the reigning king for the fine food of Athens...including all of the expenses that tag along with it.
When taking a stroll down Court Street, what does one notice? The beautiful red brick roads and an atmosphere of energy make Court Street a go to place for OU students and Athens residents alike. But look up. What do you see? The brightly colored and lit signs of restaurants such as Chipotle, Wendy’s Jimmy John’s, Big Mama’s Burritos, various coffee shops, and many more line Court Street as far as the eye can see. Most of the customers of these eateries are college students, even though the majority of students at OU have spent thousands of dollars for a yearly meal plan at the on campus dining halls, Boyd, Shively, and Nelson.
Amounts ranging from $3,618 to $6,176 are spent by students per academic year for the various meal plans offered at Ohio University. Students must use their Ohio student ID to “swipe in” to the dining hall for daily meals that cost $6.25 each. At the end of the week, if there are any “swipes” left over, a student can spend that money in a dining hall market, which is similar to a small grocery store. However, when taking a closer look at the price of food in the markets, maybe dining on Court Street does not seem so expensive at all. While browsing the aisles of Boyd Market, strawberries cost $6.50, Oreos cost a jaw-dropping $6.89, and a small case of water costs $5.00. Compared to the standard grocery store price of these items, Ohio University’s markets boast food items that are extremely overpriced for students.
So what is a broke college student to do? Spend almost $15.00 on Oreos with prepaid money or buy that $10.00, mouth-watering burrito from Chipotle with out-of-pocket cash? The answer to this question ultimately lies within the judgment of the student. However, students must take caution: Whether they are spending money from a meal plan, a debit card, or personal cash, money, as we sometimes forget to realize, does not grow on trees.
One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, says she spent $3,000 within the first three weeks of being a student at OU simply buying food with her own money from various restaurants and food outlets off campus. This student now has a negative balance in her bank account, and is frantic about what to do with her financial situation. She says, “I know my case is extreme, but it goes to show how careful you have to be with your money when you come to college. I literally spent $1,000 a week within the first three weeks of school just because I bought coffee, drinks, and food from restaurants and coffee shops. Now, I don’t have a choice of where I want to spend my money. The dining hall is my only option, and my parents are going to kill me.” Although most people would be appalled at the thought of carelessly spending thousands of dollars on food within such a short period of time, this student’s circumstance demonstrates that it is possible to get caught up in a nasty financial situation that is difficult to climb out of.
As an incoming freshman at OU myself, I have experienced the difficulties of trying to save, earn, and manage money wisely. Whether food or material items are the object of spending, one point is clear: If one is careless with his or her spending habits, debt could become inevitable. The college experience at Ohio University is meant for students to learn, grow, prosper, and make friendships with others that will last a lifetime. The college experience is not meant to drag students down a dark hole of financial ruin and stress. So, the choice is up to the student. Is that Chipotle burrito really worth the cost?
By: Katie Sweitzer
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