Get the most out of your tuition dollars: Food, bikes, and art edition

In a time where every bit of savings makes a difference, students are looking for ways to get the most out of their Viterbo tuition dollars. Viterbo offers events and programs that are free or can be enjoyed at an extremely low cost, and many of them are integrated into existing campus organizations.  

In addition to longstanding traditions in the Fine Arts Center, there have also been recent developments in Dining Services. This semester, the campus culinary staff strengthened the value of on-campus meal plans. Students and employees with the All-Access or 15 MPW plans now have access to a unique Meal Exchange program, which allows them to use a meal swipe to purchase select items at Einstein’s or the P.O.D. once per day. Dining Services has menus posted at the ordering counters. Program hours at the P.O.D. are 9:30 to 11 a.m. for breakfast and 2 to 4:30 p.m. for late lunch/dinner. Einstein’s is currently offering the 2 to 4:30 timeslot. As always, students will have to present and scan their Viterbo IDs to be eligible. In case the computer system malfunctions, students should know their ID number or have it visible on their ID. See an Einstein’s or P.O.D. associate for more details. 

An older campus-wide program that might be overlooked is the Office of Recreation’s Bike Rental. The office stocks approximately thirteen bikes that students can check out for an entire day for free. The cost is $5 per day for faculty/staff and $8 per day for guests accompanied by a faculty/staff member. Registration can be completed at the Mathy Center.  

Students looking to enjoy the musical arts do not have to drive to Chicago or Minneapolis to see a Broadway-quality performance. The Fine Arts Center Box Office gives students up to two $1 tickets to any Conservatory production (at a time). A “Conservatory production” is defined as a performance put on by students, rather than a Broadway tour stop or Bright Star Season performance. Recent and upcoming examples include Footloose, Measure for Measure, Significant Other, Pirates of Penzance, and The Hello Girls. Note: special choir events, such as A Viterbo Christmas, are an exception, though regular campus concerts are usually free and non-ticketed. See the Fine Arts Center website or Box Office for dates and times. The box office hours are currently 2 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Students can pay with cash instead of a credit card to help the box office continue offering the discount by avoiding processing fees. 

For those looking for more free, non-ticketed music events, students of the Music Department give periodic recitals to fulfill their degree requirements. Upcoming recital dates are October 15, November 19, and December 11. Singers perform Baroque through Modern-era opera and art songs, as well as Golden Age and modern music theatre selections. In the Music Theatre Department, various free cabarets are held throughout the year, including a spring senior showcase.  

In addition to seeing the results of their peers’ work, students can see that work in action. The Music Department, in tandem with the Viterbo SNATS chapter, hosts semesterly masterclasses for students to hone their musical and theatrical crafts with nationally-renowned teachers. More information will be published by the Music Department as dates approach.  

Finally, all expositions put on by the Art Gallery (student-produced or otherwise) are also free to attend. Major mediums include painting, pottery, wood art, and photography. Major highlights of the art season include the All-Student Show, which occurs in the spring. A collection of paintings by Viterbo alum Kira Peters, titled “Leave the Light On,” is currently on display through the Oct. 26. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. while classes are in session. 

Considering the many opportunities available at Viterbo, these are just a few of the ways that students can enrich their on-campus experiences. Be on the lookout for more articles in the future notifying students of low-cost and money-saving opportunities available on campus and in the greater La Crosse community.