Earlier last week, on September 16, a Change.org petition titled “Save The Tavern,” asked USF’s administration to honor the agreement between USFSP and the bar, which said that that the Bulls Bucks system would remain intact rather than transitioning to a new system following the integration into USF.
For those who are unfamiliar with the integration, USF is merging all of its campuses under one centralized system becoming one unified university.
The concept of Bull Bucks is to reduce the need to carry cash on campus for students, faculty and staff. The account is linked to an individual’s USF Card. Parents can add value to accounts allowing students to use the funds for incidentals on campus at USF Tampa and St Petersburg.
Bulls Bucks can be used at the USF pharmacy, campus dining locations, the campus bookstore, library and snack machines, as well as resident hall laundry.
By taking the Tavern off of the list of places where Bulls Bucks can be used as currency, the petition argues that USF would be taking away a piece of campus culture.
“The Tavern at Bayboro is a part of USFSP culture whether it be open mic nights or any of the other countless events it host it is an integral part of our community, that being said due to current integration into USF; we seem to have forgotten that,” read the petition.”
Over the next 24 hours, signatures and comments began flooding in. “From giving me the place to expand my friendships to drying my tears from chemistry, the Tavern has been a huge part of my undergrad experience. Plus they have the best grouper sammich,” wrote Kennedy Vertin.
Others had more aggressive words about the situation – “If USF is requiring a new system they should pay for it with the money they didn’t refund students for their parking passes in the spring. This is ridiculous. We stand with you tavern!!!”
“USF needs to help the Tavern… but they won’t. USF only cares about profit. Nobody wants to eat that garbage reef food[.]”
Just one day, and 197 signatures, the mission was accomplished –
“We are proud to announce that due to all of your support the school has decided to stand by their commitment and cover the cost of the bull bucks system for the tavern! We couldn’t have done this without each and every single one of you and we look forward to seeing all of you especially the current students with bull bucks at the tavern soon!”
For current students, no need to count your quarters for an after-class brew, and for alum, the tradition of post-exam cries and building friendships over drinks will live on at The Tavern all thanks to a scrappy petition.
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This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2020.