The Bwog
RIP Off-campus Flex, 2008-2008

Bwog received startling news from Tipster Casey Johnston who photographed the distressing sign (see right) outside of HamDel. And just three weeks into Off-Campus Flex's brief flirtation with existence!

Bwog called HamDel, desperate for answers. "Um... I dunno," answered a HamDel employee when questioned about the disappearance (death?) of Off-Campus Flex. CC '09 President George Krebs responded first with disbelief ("I went last night and it was working fine. I haven't heard anything from the administration about the system going down") and later shock: "weird....."

However, to HamDel enthusiasts, the news of the deli's secession from the restaurants-united-in-Flex comes as no surprise. Explains one such HamDel loyalist: "In the last week they've been getting progressively (and visibly) more frustrated with the card reading device. They collectively roll their eyes and sigh deeply and sadly whenever I present them with my ID."

Responses from HamDel manager (who, according to previously mentioned HamDel employee will "probably be in tomorrow") and Michael Novielli, Director of Manhattanville Student Outreach forthcoming.


Posted by solution!: #1 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 7:59 PM (from campus)
hamdel should allow flex during off-hours. shit gets crowded in there during breakfast/lunch rushes and that's what's fuckin shit up is they don't have the space to accomodate a long line of people tryin to use the flex machine.

ALSO why do we have to sign for flex? if we can just swipe at a vending machine and use flex (to purchase metrocards and ipods no less) why do we have to sign at hamdel?
Posted by george krebs: #2 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 8:16 PM
can't handle a 3am phone call to ham del if he can't use flex

is that who you want running your class?
Posted by instead: #3 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 8:27 PM (from campus)
of fidgeting with flex, hamdel should learn to get my sandwich orders right. Seriously, much love for the establishment, but they make A LOT of mistakes with orders.
Posted by wwwooowww: #4 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 8:31 PM (from campus)
yo krebs, big blow before elections. you gonna do something or should i just ask alidad?
Posted by good: #5 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 8:45 PM
hamdel is traditionally grad student territory. they have the police the border against the lazier undergrads, at least. the only card they should take are the VIP gold ones.
Posted by blah: #6 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 8:45 PM (from campus)
i was in hamdel last night and used flex. it took me all of one minute to finish paying. fifteen minutes later, i was still waiting for my sandwich when the guy behind the counter informs me that he forgot what i had ordered, and then proceeded to make it in one minute.

work on making my sandwich quickly or you won't get any of my money, flex or not.
Posted by also: #7 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 8:46 PM
the "prezbo and a dinosaur in front of hamdel" category is becoming distressingly twee.
Posted by ...: #8 (in reply to #1) · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 8:52 PM (from campus)
you have to sign with flex because it's an outside vendor. it wouldn't be too hard for them to double-charge/over-charge/cheat it it weren't for a paper trail. whereas columbia controls all of it's establishments so there's some kind of inherent trust.

1 minute to complete a transaction is unacceptable in this day and age. they need to migrate it to ethernet, wireless ethernet, or tune their modem pool to answer immediately otherwise it's just going to drive the vendors crazy.

Posted by Sorry: #9 (in reply to #5) · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 8:56 PM (from campus)
which tradition are you talking about? Wien is right there. Grads can piss off to Manhattanville, and take your airs of douche with you.
Posted by also:: #10 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 8:58 PM (from campus)
hamdel gets charged a certain amount, i think 20 or 30 cents for each swipe, even if it's just a pack of gum.
Posted by tradition: #11 (in reply to #9) · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 9:02 PM
hamdel wasn't filled with mostly undergrads until like 2006ish. it was chockablock with boorish law and business students instead. but it's since suffered the same fate as 1020: undergradtrification
Posted by untrue: #12 (in reply to #11) · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 9:05 PM
as an undergrad alumn--there were tons of undergrads there

ec and wien provide a continuous stream
Posted by kts: #13 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 9:15 PM (from campus)
Don't get me wrong, I love HamDel, and I love using fake money, but HamDel has too much business already during the rush times. Maybe Flex at 1am is cool, but Flex at HamDel at noon is like paying with cash (and exact change) at Ferris or 212. Why do people do that?
Posted by signing: #14 (in reply to #1) · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 9:26 PM (from campus)
You have to sign at the Book Store too.
Posted by grad students: #15 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 9:29 PM (from campus)
can sit on it and rotate if they don't like undergrads eating delicious hamdel sandwiches. Go to nonflex-taking uris if you're too good for us.

And seriously, you think undergrads lower the quality of 1020? I love the place to death, but its certainly not the people-customers or other-who make it a shitty bar.
Posted by Also: #16 (in reply to #11) · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 9:29 PM (from campus)
What? I've been going to HamDel since 2004 as have most of my friends in CC08. Friends of mine from CC07 had gone to HamDel since their freshman year, too.
Posted by funny: #17 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 9:59 PM (from campus)
it's funny how when there's a problem with flex it's george's problem, but when flex is seen as an accomplishment the whole project was peter valeiras.
Posted by the only : #18 (in reply to #17) · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 10:04 PM
reason i made my comment is cause he was the guy quoted

i don't know anything about george krebs--except that he like election centered basketball matches to the death--which i think should be mandatory for all elections
Posted by what instrument: #19 · reply · track
April 8, 2008 at 10:21 PM
do they often play at this place?

The Hamdelin!
Posted by ORLY?: #20 · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 12:03 AM (from campus)
HamDel and 1020 are the treasured grad student hangouts here? I'm glad I'll be elsewhere for that part of my education . . .
Posted by night owl: #21 · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 12:06 AM (from campus)
Well, no one mind's Flex being slow when I go to HamDel at 4am...oh well, I guess those days are over!
Posted by hmm...: #22 · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 1:13 AM (from campus)
I was there earlier today during a busy period and used my flex no problem. I didn't see the sign there, nor did I have any issue paying with flex.
Posted by same: #23 (in reply to #22) · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 2:36 AM (from campus)
same. i was there at noon or so.
Posted by font recognition: #24 · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 4:00 AM (from campus)
Is that Palatino I spy?
Posted by even more untrue: #25 (in reply to #12) · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 4:02 AM (from campus)
i have a thing or two to say about continuous streams...
Posted by Zach: #26 (in reply to #24) · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 10:00 AM (from campus)
I would've said Caslon.
Posted by Nah: #27 (in reply to #26) · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 10:33 AM (from campus)
The capital P is a dead giveaway. See how the curve doesn't touch the vertical? Classic Palatino.

[external link to upload.wikimedia.org]
Posted by Alidad Damooei: #28 · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 12:07 PM (from campus)
This is another example of failing to implement lasting reforms. A vote for me is a vote for sustainability.

===CONNECT COLUMBIA!+++++
Posted by !@#$%: #29 (in reply to #28) · reply · track
April 9, 2008 at 1:07 PM (from campus)
Ugh, kill yourself.

Name:
Email:
Reply to:

Describe this color in one lowercase word.

About Us

Bwog is compiled by the staff of The Blue and White, Columbia University's undergraduate magazine.

Contact Us

Please send tips to bwgossip@columbia.edu.

Questions or concerns? Email bweditors@columbia.edu.

Bwog is always looking for new writing talent. Email bwog@columbia.edu.

In Print

Search

Comment Policy

Our Favorite Comments

What do you : [read]
"need if you're buying a musical instrument today? A Chopin Liszt!"
just to let you know: [read]
"it will be your significant other breaking up with you (because at other schools, there's actually an..."

Bwogroll

Technical

Our headlines are syndicated through Atom.
This site is powered by the Publicate Content Management System, which is available for free.
Our interface icons are from the free Silk set.