QuakerCard offers fraternities incentives if members buy card

University Student Services, Inc. has offered an incentive for fraternity members to purchase the QuakerCard, a new debit card students can use at several local restaurants. According to InterFraternity Council President and College senior Josh Gottheimer, fraternities will receive a house QuakerCard with $100 credit toward house functions if 15 members sign up for individual cards. The Wharton School graduates who run University Student Services, a company established this summer, presented the incentive to InterFraternity Council members at a meeting last week, according to Sigma Phi Epsilon President and Wharton senior Tim Lash. "This is an opportunity for the Greek system and it's up to us to take advantage of it and see how it works," said Lash, who also serves as the IFC's executive vice president. The QuakerCard allows students to put money into a debit account, which they can then use to purchase food at several restaurants around campus. Lash said he does not anticipate his house will take advantage of the offer, although members are still considering it. "I am interested to simplify things, and it would be convenient if we did have the card, but? as far as urging my fraternity members to take on the card for themselves, I won't push it down their throats," Lash said. Gottheimer, a brother in Alpha Epsilon Pi, said he hopes the IFC will be able to help University Student Services "get their message out." "This is a new corporation and if we can help them? be successful, then these are the kind of endeavors that we can engage in," Gottheimer said. Lash noted that individual houses will determine whether or not to accept the QuakerCard offer, but added that fraternities should definitely consider the idea. "This is not something we're promoting, or something we're against, either," Gottheimer said. "We just provided the forum for them to distribute information to us." Gottheimer added that outside companies, such as Student Advantage, often aim their products at fraternity chapters, which represent a large portion of the University. "They're offering something positive for our students [and] we're offering something to our presidents and the Greek system as a whole," Gottheimer said. "If we can work together in a community partnership, we see no disadvantage to it." QuakerCard representatives did not respond to repeated attempts to contact them.