We support the Residence Halls Association’s idea for prepaid laundry. We just want to see where they’re going with it.

As the idea stands in its infancy stage, students would still be paying and swiping for laundry; it’s simply a difference in how the bill comes.

There are really three ideas in the works, mirrored after current systems.

The first idea is modeled after the current print system of $35 per semester. We have some questions about how laundry could work with this model. If it’s opt-in, how would this save money? The principle behind the print quota is that not everyone uses it, so the cost is subsidized for those who do use it. Could laundry work in the same way? If so, how much money could fail to roll over?

The second option is to model the prepaid printing after the dining plan tiers. This would allow students to choose how often they think they’ll be doing laundry per week and buy a plan accordingly. With this plan, it’s not yet decided how or if the washes will roll over like points and how small, extra fees could be factored in, such as an extended drying time.

The third option is the one we most strongly endorse. It would create an E.Z. Charge account for laundry services. Students can choose how much to opt-in and add more as they go. With this system, it could still avoid a finance fee for a $3 bill and make laundry spending easier to track.

Charges would show up on the monthly bill, but this would put laundry charges in an easy-to-find place rather than needing to track each swipe and figure out what it corresponds with.

In addition, for students who charge every bookstore purchase, namely hundreds of dollars in textbooks, this could be a way to keep them from overcharging. Problems arise if you charge more than $500 on student charge, but a prepaid laundry account would mean money set aside for this necessity.

We hope RHA will see this plan through as well as identify a tangible benefit to students opting in, such as a slightly reduced cost.