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Miami eliminates options for left over meal plan money

Gabi Madden, For The Miami Student

Miami University students no longer have an option as to where leftover meal plan money is transferred. The leftover money would go directly to MUlaa accounts to be used for various activities on campus.

Lucinda Coveney, director of housing contracts and meal plans, said students will no longer be able to transfer money left over on their meal plans to their bursar accounts, nor will they be able to receive a refund check.

All money left over in diplomat meal plans will now be automatically transferred to a student's MUlaa account that is non-refundable.

Coveney said students usually have a few options to choose from in deciding where their money goes: they can put it into their bursar account for their education, pay $35 to receive a refund check in the mail or transfer money left to their MUlaa account. According to Coveney, a large amount of students choose the MUlaa option.

Coveney said MUlaa money could be used at the Miami University Bookstore, the box office, the Recreational Sports Center Pro Shop, vending machines, laundry and copy and print machines.

According to Coveney, the reason for the change is to make a more streamlined and environmentally friendly system.

"It's a much more efficient and green way of going about it," Coveney said.

Coveney said Housing, Dining and Guest Services wants students to still have the option to use their money and this is a way in which they can still have that option.

Though she isn't greatly affected by this change because she usually puts her money into MUlaa anyway, sophomore Nicole Shin doesn't agree with the new procedure.

"I think that you should have a say on whether it can go back to you or whether you want it to go in your MUlaa," Shin said.

Sophomore Sarah Toney, who always puts extra money in her food account knowing she will get it back, also feels strongly about this change.

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"It's dumb because I would rather get a refund check to use that refund to pay back loans rather than get it put in my MUlaa that I never use," Toney said.

Coveney anticipates students will disagree with the change, but thinks in the long run it will work out for the better.

"It just depends on how each student thinks about it," Coveney said. "I think that any time you have change there are always people who are going to disagree with it, but once they get used to the new program … they'll adjust."