| | | News Briefs
| | | Replacing a "fish out of water:" the switchover from LaSalle to U.S. Bank
By Erica Schlaikjer
As of July 1, the approximately 4,000 NU students currently banking with LaSalle now have another option: U.S. Bank, the University’s new banking partner.
LaSalle Bank chose not to renew its five-year contract with the university on June 30, according to Art Monge, manager of the WildCARD program. While the switch to U.S. Bank was not a university decision, Monge stressed that it turned out to be a good change.
LaSalle Bank had received “very poor ratings” in annual web surveys that evaluated the bank’s services and its clients’ satisfaction.
“LaSalle is not the proper fit for student banking,” Monge said, calling the institution a “fish out of water” at NU. “Students felt that it was very unfair that they were being hit with every type of fee.”
Unlike LaSalle, U.S. Bank offers free checking, free Internet banking, unlimited ATM transactions, no minimum balance, and no teller fees. Monge said the university wanted a bank “with more experience” when it came to servicing college clientele.
Servicing students is a “huge, huge focus” for U.S. Bank, according to Branch Manager Jeff Joehnk. The national banking institution currently serves 19 colleges and universities, now including Northwestern. Joehnk said he hopes “to make it as easy as possible to make the switch” between banking options when students return in the fall.
Twenty bankers will be on campus from the beginning of New Student Week until Sept. 28 to assist new and returning students.
“Simply by filling out an application,” Monge said, “students will get a new WildCARD with their new banking number on it,” which, as in the past, will be accepted at more than 200 merchants in Evanston.
Not much has changed in terms of where to drop off deposits and collect cash. The full-service banking branch at Norris still exists, right where it used to be, but this time the sign reads “U.S. Bank.” Additionally, the hours are longer. Account holders may now do their banking Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. There are also plans to install two additional ATMs by the end of the year: one at the Chicago campus law school, and one in the Pancoe Building in Evanston.
Changes at Kellogg:
Seven Kellogg classrooms have received a “facelift” this summer, according to Assistant Dean of Administrative Services, Carole Cahill. Students will be able to enjoy new seating, new wall finishes, podiums with touch panels to control AV/tech, and new carpets. ‘Gotta love that new Kellogg smell.
Café Kellogg is getting a little makeover, too: a new grill for a “wider variation of food choices” and “fresh choices” Don’t be misinformed: this new and improved cafeteria is not just for the future businesspeople of America- it’s open to all hungry students.
Booze news:
In case you were too drunk to notice last spring…
As of April 25, public drinking and fake ID fines have increased almost ten-fold. What used to cost between $25 and $500 to get off the hook for boozing in the streets or using a phony license now costs between $200 and $750.
Parking and Plush Apartments:
The Sherman Avenue Parking Garage is being demolished to make way for a $180 million project, the Sherman Plaza Development. The new development will contain two floors of retail shopping and 253 condo units. A new Self-Park parking garage will replace the public parking garage located on 1616 Sherman Ave, which was declared unsafe and shut down in May. There are also plans to build a 60,000 square feet health club and a “green roof” garden area for residents.
Smoking:
Evanston’s Indoor Clean Air Ordinance Act was amended on June 28. There will be no smoking inside of all workplaces except restaurants, bars, and long-term care facilities (although some restaurants have voluntarily declared themselves “smoke-free.”) You also won’t be able to blow smoke within 25 feet of building entrances. Don’t try lighting up in common areas such as laundry rooms and lobby areas inside your apartment building. First-time violators face a $100 fine.
Library eBooks:
Who needs overpriced campus bookstores when the Evanston public library offers free “eBooks?” As long as you are an EPL cardholder, you may access these electronic versions of printed books through any computer with an Internet connection. You can even download them straight to your hard drive or your handheld PDA. Subjects include everything from self-help to science fiction. The eBook service is available at http://www.ebook.epl.org.
New businesses:
If you’re the type who is always up for something new, check out any one of these new businesses to hit Evanston this summer:
- American Massage Therapy Association, 500 Davis
- T-Mobile, 1732 Sherman
- Therapeutic Massage Center, 828 Davis
- Reiko’s Romantics, a class-y lingerie shop, 828 Davis
- Kinko’s Copy Center, 1800 Sherman
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