Campus dining facilities, such as Gus’ Snack Bar, the C-store and the Brew by the Slough currently only take debit and credit cards, Viking Bucks and meal swipes as payment. This excludes those who want to use cash and turns away business.

Although it may be more convenient to take cards and Viking bucks at campus dining facilities, it makes it more difficult for students who want to use cash, ultimately creating an environment where everyone might not be able to buy what they want. 

If a student is in a position where they do not have any options other than cash, they are out of luck. Allowing students to use cash would open up opportunities for everyone. Even though a good majority of students do not use cash on campus, having it as an option would make sure that all students at least have the chance to buy something if they need to.

Not to mention, parents and people who are not students or faculty and do not know they cannot use cash are on campus all the time. Imagine they traveled all the way to Augustana for a tour or event and ended up not even being able to buy themselves a meal.

The percentage of people using cash as payment has decreased over the years, but it is still the third most-used way. Opening up the registers to cash might influence more people to buy food, especially since some people exclusively use cash.

Even though it would be easier for people hoping to purchase from these facilities, it would make the closing process for employees a little more difficult. There would have to be someone to count the cash at the end of the day and bring it to the bank. Employees would also have to be more cautious of counterfeit money as well as the security risks that come along with having cash. Additionally, there is a chance it makes rush periods go by slower since the person behind the register would have to count the cash and give the change back.

Allowing people to use cash would make purchasing easier for some people, but there likely would not be an overwhelming amount of cash transactions, since it is easier to just use a card. This means employees would still encounter mostly card transactions and would not have to worry about only taking cash.

Even though a lot of people would still use cards, that does not mean that people who want to use cash should not have the opportunity to. People should not have to worry about not being able to get something to eat or drink because they do not have the right form of payment. 

Taking cash as a payment option would make it more difficult for the people who work in the dining facilities, but customers and people purchasing something can combat the extra work by making sure to be extra appreciative and respectful when patronizing the facility.