The Barometer Online

Issue date: 1/7/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Contributed Photo Students waited in line at the ASOSU office to turn in MealBux applications Tuesday morning. The MealBux plan puts money on students' OSU ID cards for use at on-campus dining and off-campus MealBux participants.

The ASOSU office was filled yesterday morning with students trying to submit their applications early enough to be considered for the MealBux program.

Using funds collected from student fees, ASOSU's Social Resources Committee provides students with the opportunity to receive up to $250 on their OSU ID cards for food.

The applications were available to be filled out starting Jan. 2, and ASOSU began accepting them at 10 a.m. yesterday.

Since MealBux began in spring 2006, it has become so popular that not all students who apply are accepted.

To give everyone a fair opportunity, the applications are time-stamped upon their arrival.

The money is then divvied out on a first come, first served basis until the funds have been depleted.

Advertisements for the MealBux program were posted around campus, and even though ASOSU couldn't post ads on its Web site as it is currently being updated, ASOSU saw an increase in the number of applicants.

Each student is required to fill out an application and provide documentation of personal income and how much they were awarded from financial aid for the current term. Other documents are needed as well, depending on marriage status, children supported and term cost of attendance.

ASOSU Director of Social Resources Chon Madrigal and Assistant Director Yesenia Garcia explain how the process of selection works, as not all applicants can be accepted into the program.

"We use a program through Excel that takes every aspect of the application into consideration. The program is set up with a distinctive formula that calculates an individual's need based on the information the applicant provided," Madrigal said.

"The program takes into account for each applicant that rent and utilities are roughly $1,000 a month. Assuming that the information provided is correct, we enter the information and the program gives us an amount that corresponds to the information provided," Madrigal added.

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