Meal cards are now accepted as tender at Tradewinds Coffee House in the Student Union.

Since its opening in spring of 1997, Tradewinds has accepted only cash and Appalachian Express cards.

"(In the past) the meal plan for the students had been used explicitly for the university food services," said Director of Food Services Ron Dubberly.

Dubberly said Tradewinds initially offered the university a cut of the profit last spring.

ASU declined the offer until later in May when Tradewinds made a counter-proposal, he said. The university finally accepted and activated the meal card option for Tradewinds at the beginning of this semester.

ASU Food Services had to work around the idea of a privately owned business operating on campus, said Tre Watkins, owner of Tradewinds.

Watkins said a special consideration had to be taken for Tradewinds' position within the Food Services budget.

The university can now earn a profit through student use of meal cards and the coffeehouse can stay in business, Watkins said.

Watkins said Tradewinds' prices will not be raised simply because students can now use their meal cards.

Watkins thinks business will improve for the coffee house. "When you can give your customers more of a paying basis, it helps you and them," he said.

Tradewinds patron Heather Gleason, a junior, is pleased about the change. "It's a little ridiculous to just now get meal card service here," she said. "But now it's a lot more convenient to come in."