I would like to ask Northeastern why, after making $40,000 in tuition from every student in the Beanpot ticket line, it can’t afford to pay a couple more work-study students, buy another credit card machine or hire someone smart enough to realize that a multi-hundred student line shouldn’t be stuck waiting at one window.

Beanpot tickets went on sale to students Wednesday at noon. Upon arriving 10 minutes before the sale started, I found a line that stretched from the front door of Matthews Arena, through the entire lobby, up the stairs and around the rink to beyond the far goal. Not only was this line intimidating and ridiculous, it also didn’t move. Why, you might ask? Because there was one person, with one credit card machine, handling the entire crowd. If you called the ticket office somebody told you, “No, we can’t open another window because we can only afford two work-study students, one for the front of the line and one for the back.”

Interesting, however, that behind the glass pane of the window at the front of the line there were four unoccupied students sitting in the office. Even more interesting was the fact that when I asked fellow students in the line if they would volunteer to work for a small incentive, it seemed like I could start a line myself for that option. So, I ask again, can you open another window? There were clearly enough people to open all five available windows.

“No, we only have one credit card machine,” someone said.

It seems a bit frustrating based on the fact that at the small nonprofit I used to work at they had five credit card machines for lines much shorter than this. You would think Northeastern could not only afford to own or rent these machines, but would be smart enough to realize they need them.

Although, what should Northeastern care? The students already paid for the classes they are skipping while sitting in line; they don’t really need much more from us.

– Samantha Kanter is a junior photography and multimedia dual major.