Students miss drink machines

Eighty-five vending machines in schools and Halls of Residences were removed in December

By Ry-Anne Lim

Students are seeking other options of buying drinks after the vending machines were removed. A new vendor is expected to replace the machines by mid-2016. PHOTO: KENJI KWOK

The disappearance of drink vending machines across campus has left students disgruntled, with many complaining that getting a drink has become more inconvenient.

Eighty-five of the machines in schools and Halls of Residences were removed in December when the old supplier’s license expired, according to the Office of Housing and Auxiliary Services (HAS).

HAS Chief Officer Mr Jimmy Lee said the machines were not replaced immediately because the office has to first review the available alternatives and explore what other self-service machines could be installed on campus.

“Vending machines for snacks, hot sandwiches and stationery are still in place,” Mr Lee said. “In the meantime, students can get drinks from the food courts, school cafes and other F&B outlets on campus.”

Students interviewed expressed their disappointment with the missing machines.

“Having no drink machines on campus is ridiculous,” said Melissa Ong, 21, a second-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

Ezrella Kho, 20, now has to make a detour on her way to school to make sure she stays hydrated.

“I have to go to Canteen Two just to get a drink before class, so it’s all very inconvenient,” the first-year Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) student added.

Others, on the other hand, are fine with going out of their way to ensure that their drinks are still readily available.

Since the vending machines disappeared, Samantha Ngain, 20, has been buying drinks in bulk from supermarkets on campus.

“Previously, I only had to walk down two flights of stairs to buy drinks from the vending machine,” said Ngain, a second-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

“The only alternative to buying drinks in bulk is to go down five storeys to buy one from the canteen,” she added.

Ngain, who stays in Hall of Residence 12, also said more students from her hall have been asking her to buy drinks for them.

Not everyone is complaining, though. Goh Su Yi, a 20-year-old Nanyang Business School student, said she felt her peers could be exaggerating the inconvenience.

“I can get my drinks from the supermarket or convenience stores when I have classes on campus,” the second-year student added.

Shannen Chua, a first-year student from HSS, feels healthier now that she cannot easily buy soda.

“I’ve been drinking only water and I feel healthier and more focused,” the 20-year-old added.

Students will not be grumbling for much longer.

While a new supplier has not yet been selected, the HAS is planning for new drink vending machines to be installed in more locations around school by mid-2016.

The HAS declined to reveal further details.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Nanyang Chronicle on March 7, 2016, with the headline ‘Students miss drink machines’. Print Edition