There’s a reason the “C-Stores” located in Maple, Friley and Wallace Halls are called “convenience” stores. The purpose of the stores is to provide students with a convenience they otherwise might not have.

However, despite the service provided by the stores, some students said they are dissatisfied with certain aspects of the stores.

One problem cited by students is location; each of the residence hall associations has only one store serving all the students in that area.

“Everyone knows the most important aspects of a convenience store are location, location, location,” said Hunter Leland, senior in computer engineering and a resident of Lyon Hall. “We put money into these things, and they’re not even near us. That’s geographical discrimination.”

Although students living some distance from the C-Stores may be dissatisfied, those students residing in the halls where the C-Stores are located voiced largely different opinions.

“I think the convenience stores are a good thing,” said Brian Jackson, sophomore in graphic design and resident of Friley Hall. “They’re easier than going up the street or anything else.”

Other students who live in the same buildings as the C-Stores agreed that the convenience stores are accessible.

“It’s better than nothing, and they don’t charge tax,” said Laura Lyke, freshmen in pre-engineering and a resident of Friley. “It’s good if you’re thinking, ‘Man, I could really use an orange juice.'”

Some students said they are bothered by the stores’ prices and hours.

“The prices are too expensive,” said Shannon Schwab, freshmen in animal science and resident of Wilson Hall. “I mean, I’m glad they have things like milk, but I’m not satisfied with the prices.”

Other students disagree, saying the prices are fair.

“The prices, I think, are average,” Jackson said. “They’re not too high but not that low. Medicine is expensive, but things like pop aren’t.”

Angie Nickell, employee of Friley’s C-Store and freshman in early childhood education, said she thinks the prices are fair.

“Especially considering the fact that the students just have to go down the stairs to get what they want,” she said.

According to a fact sheet, an actual comparison of prices at Friley’s C-Store, Onion’s (in the Memorial Union) and Kum & Go reveals that most C-Store prices are lower than prices at the other two stores.

One liter of pop is 27 cents cheaper at Friley than at Kum & Go ($1.25 compared to $1.52), while candy bars average 17 cents cheaper ($.50 compared to $.67).

“The price comparison speaks for itself,” said Dean Hagen, convenience store and retail dining manager. “We’re below most things and in the middle on milk, so all in all [the students are] getting a good deal on things, especially without taxes.”

Melissa Larson, manager of the C-Store located in the Maple-Willow-Larch Commons and junior in family resource management and consumer science, said there are other benefits to shopping at the C-Stores.

“One of the good things about us is that we carry Pepsi products,” Larson said. “A lot of people are mad that you can’t find Pepsi products very easily on campus, so that’s an advantage.”

Some students had complaints about the products the stores carry.

“Basically all the real food it’s good for is milk,” Schwab said. “They don’t have bread, and they need it, … They don’t have fruit, either.”

Missy Sander, freshman in animal science and a resident of Storms Hall, said the food available at Towers’ C-Store, which is located in the Wallace-Wilson Commons, is not healthful.

“They have a whole section of cookies, but not real food,” she said.

Hagan said the Towers’ store will be getting fruit soon.

“It was one of the most asked for items, and we try to put suggested items on the shelves,” he said. “It’s a service-oriented thing … if the students ask for it, they’ll usually get it.”

Currently the stores are open from 8:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Schwab said the hours are not convenient.

“You’d think that on the weekends they’d have them open longer because people are up later,” Schwab said.

Hagen and the employees of the C-Stores, however, said the hours are fair.

“We did cut back the hours on Saturday,” Hagen said. “Actually, there hasn’t been enough business on Saturday to keep them open at all. It’s more of a service thing.”