<\/a>
\n
\nMark Braboy
\nStaff Writer
\n<\/strong>
\nJackson State University is a thriving and growing school of constant change and progress. For the past two years or so, I have witnessed JSU evolve in order to meet the changing and growing needs of the city of Jackson and the world.
\nUnfortunately, what has remained stagnant after all these years is the JSU Supercard.
\nFor as long as I have been able to receive refunds from my financial aid, I have always been skeptical about the Supercard, until I eventually learned how to adapt to it.
\nI have always felt that the uses for it are very limited outside of buying fast food, paying for books, personal grooming, and fashion. Even though there are a growing number of vendors who accept the card, it is still being pigeonholed within the same niches.
\nWhile it is good that we can use the Supercard for those things and more, it is not touching all of the other important things that we consistently spend our money on as students. I never liked how we could not do more versatile things with it such as buy groceries, toiletries, cleaning products and other dormitory or home-based goods. More importantly, you also can not pay bills with it. Electronics and medicine are limited to the bookstore and these prices are often more expensive than other strores.
\nWhen all of the gas stations stopped taking the JSU Supercard, it was a harsh blow to many students because a lot of us depended on using it to pay for gas whenever we were low on cash. Since the campus bookstore has been selling the Shell gift cards, it has been helpful, but not as reliable. Those cards have been in such high demand that they are hard to come by. Not only that, but the gas prices have risen at these Shells.
\nI strongly believe that there is a need for the JSU Supercard to be reformed because at this point, I believe that it has outlived its usefulness. Since JSU is a university that is changing to meet the needs of the students, one of the needs is to make our money more accessible to us so that we can use it however we want to.
\nThis could be done by changing the card into prepaid debit card like Alcorn State University\u2019s Gold Card or Hinds Community College\u2019s debit card.
\nIf we were to explore the avenue of creating it either through Money Network or in partnership with our sponsor, BankPlus, then it would be a great benefit to us all.
\nWe would be able to withdraw money through an ATM whenever we want ed and we would also be able to check our balances and keep track of our accounts a lot easier than with the JSU Supercard.
\nWe also would have a much wider variety of places and stores to use it and it would be a better long term solution to addressing our need for buying gas.
\nThe exceedingly long wait for refunds could be shortened by at least a few days if we were able to have our refunds deposited into our own debit cards with direct deposit. Also, students would be able to pay off previous balances much faster.
\nWhether or not these changes can happen this year, next year, or years later, there is a need for the Supercard to be reformed.
\nAs an institution that is all about progress and advancing with the times, it is time for the JSU Supercard to catch up.<\/p>\n

The views expressed in the commentary are those of the writer(s) and in no way represent the views of The Blue & White Flash.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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