Cal Poly students without university-issued reusable tumblers or a purchased fountain cup can no longer get ice from most Campus Dining soda machines, a restriction introduced this academic year.
Previously, students could dispense ice and water into any reusable bottle. Now, ice is restricted to Cal Poly-issued tumblers, while water remains free to all students.
Students can still get ice in any water bottle at the Subway in Dexter Building.
Campus Dining said they were unable to keep up with the high demand for ice in an email to Mustang News. They decided to prioritize its availability for paying customers.
“We understand there is broader demand for ice across campus and are working with campus partners, including ASI and Housing, to identify potential locations for additional ice stations,” Campus Dining wrote.
Business administration freshmen Jeremy Ting, Maya Padilla and Stacey Milenewicz said they were frustrated with the restriction while eating lunch outside Campus Market. They said they believe ice is a basic thing campus dining halls should provide.
“That’s unfair,” Ting said.
“Why are we rationing ice?” Padilla said.
“Who likes warm water?” Milenewicz said.
Fatima Corona, an agricultural systems management senior, said the unusually hot weather earlier this academic year made access to free ice particularly important.
“That’s so greedy. Everything is already expensive and especially with the warm weather, why can’t I get some free ice and water?” Corona said.
Biological sciences sophomore Marco Prevedel-Slafter also criticized the restriction.
“It’s ice, just give it to people,” Prevedel-Slafter said.