Recent changes to the WesCard Middletown Cash program will alter the way students pay for campus laundry services. Beginning Monday, many laundry locations on campus will no longer accept the familiar MacGray cards. Instead, students will be required to enroll in the Middletown Cash program, which will allow them to use their WesCard in University machines.
The initial list of laundry locations scheduled to be converted by Monday include Nicolson 7, Hewitt 8 and 10, WestCo 3 and 4, Butterfield B, 1 Vine St., Hi Rise, 200 Church St. and 202 Washington St. Due to installation problems, however, some locations will not be operational until the end of next week, according to Manny Cunard, director of the WesCard program and laundry services.
Until now, students could only use Middletown Cash for purchases at local businesses such as Javapalooza and Typhoon. While not initially included, laundry services were always intended to be part of the program.
“The addition of laundry services has been planned since we began the development of the WesCard plan,” Cunard said. “The consolidation will provide the convenience of a single card that can be used for many purposes on campus.”
Students who plan to use the converted laundry services will be able to transfer existing MacGray balances to their WesCard at the WesCard office, located in the first floor of North College. Students have until the end of the academic year to do so. Other laundry services on campus will continue to accept the MacGray cards while they are transferred to the WesCard system.
According to Cunard, Middletown Cash use has increased in recent weeks, but he hopes the addition of laundry services will compel students to add to their accounts. As of three weeks ago, only 66 students were enrolled in the program and had collectively deposited just under $21,000.
Cunard added that increased Cash usage could lead to special discounts at Middletown stores in the spring.
“We are confident that recent changes will continue to increase use of the Middletown Cash option,” Cunard said.
With laundry services operating through the WesCard, students will be able to make deposits to their Middletown Cash accounts online, eliminating the need to visit one of the two MacGray card stations on campus.
“I hate the MacGray cards,” said Robert Judson, ’05. “The machine in the Science Center won’t let you put on less than $5.”
With Middletown Cash, students may deposit any amount they wish online with a credit card, through mail or by visiting the WesCard offices.
Some students do not look favorably on the upcoming changes.
“I really feel this should have been put to the students,” said Matt Cron, ’05. “It seems like they’re trying to force us to use the WesCard, when a lot of students have been reluctant to do so.”
Cunard stresses that the changes have been made only in an effort to make laundry services more convenient for students, pointing out that students will no longer need to carry cash or a second card to do their laundry.
Cunard says that other changes to the WesCard system are planned for the near future, including compatibility with copying and vending machines on campus.
For more information about WesCard, or to make Middletown Cash deposits, students should visit www.wesleyan.edu/wescard.
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