Being the student activities director for 27 years, Steve Klein understands the importance of keeping students occupied on a small campus in a rural town. Ten years ago, Klein created a program that coordinated with local businesses to give students special deals on food and entertainment that are still alive today.
Students receive special perks and privileges from seven local businesses with a simple flash of their Boxer Card. These perks include $1 off any order at Pizza Schmizza, free swimming at the Forest Grove Aquatic Center, free bowling on Thursdays at Rainbow Lanes, $2 movies at Forest Theater along with $1 soda and popcorn, free early movie showings at McMenamin’s, and two tickets for $11 at Regal Cinema and Cornelius Cinema 9.
“I wanted to give students ways to recreate locally to get them out of their residence halls and into town,” said Klein.
The special perks Pacific receives from local businesses does not just benefit students. Klein said the Forest Theater would not be open without their relationship with Pacific.
Funding for the perks and privileges comes from every student’s activity fee. The 2012-13 budget for Boxer Card specials is $29,000. The aquatic center takes $13,000 of that paid fee of at the beginning of each year, while businesses like Pizza Schmizza are paid monthly dependent on students usage. For every $1 off students receive, Pacific pays it back.
The use of these perks and privileges is all documented by the businesses and sent to Klein, so he can monitor the usage. This is done to make sure students are still utilizing the discounts.
The Pacific Information Center teams up with Klein to help make these deals readily available for students in a centralized location. The PIC sells the two for $11 dollar tickets for Regal Cinema and Cornelius Cinema 9. Also, when student activities teams up with the ACE Board to offer movie premiere nights, the PIC handles the ticket sales.
An upcoming event that Klein coordinates with the PIC is Zoolights, a night at the Portland Zoo where the zoo is adorned in lights creating intricate decorations. Tickets are purchasable for $2 which covers transportation and zoo admission. The event will take place on Dec. 2.
In the future, Klein hopes to offer comedy nights and live bands at the Forest Theater.
Klein encourages students to share their suggestions on how to improve the program. Contact him at kleinsk@pacificu.edu.
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