First came Pepsi, and soon kiosks sheltering vending machines will sprout on the Boca Raton campus. These are the results of the “beverage war” at FAU that has received mixed reviews from students.

The administration and Student Government officials are happy because Pepsi is paying a lot more money to the school than Coca Cola did. But some students aren’t happy with the change of vendors because they prefer Coke products to Pepsi. Others aren’t pleased with the vending machines themselves.

Garrett Jahn, a senior political science major, is pleased with the change that took place earlier this year. While standing in front of a Pepsi vending machine in the Breezeway, Jahn pulls out four quarters to get his favorite soda, Mountain Dew. He explains that he likes Coke but “I prefer Pepsi products more.” Lucky for Jahn, Pepsi will be at all FAU campuses for the next 10 years.

“I like Coke, but I like Dr Pepper,” Kelly O’Connor, a junior majoring in communication, says. “That’s the only thing that I like from Pepsi because Coke’s Mr Pibb is not the same. I think that FAU should have kept Coke.”

O’Connor adds, “I think [Pepsi] could definitely have more flavors. For instance, Coke had Vanilla Coke in the machines.”

Four nursing students sitting outside at the Cafeteria drinking Pepsi fountain drinks have a lot to say about the change. Dawn Paynter, a senior, says, “I prefer Coke, Diet Vanilla Coke and Diet Cherry Coke. The machines are all right. … They seem high tech and they don’t run out as much as last fall semester.”

Junior Bethany Meznanec adds, “I prefer Coke products over Pepsi products…uh, the working ones?” Meznanec is upset about the vending machines malfunctioning throughout the campus. “I think there’s enough machines on campus but not enough working ones,” she complains.

Chris Mickett, a senior, says, “I prefer Coke and my favorite is Diet Coke.”

Cynthia Eugene, a senior, disagrees with her three friends and says, “My favorite soda is Diet Pepsi. I did notice the change of the machines. I don’t feel there is enough machines on campus…not enough work properly…the machines steal our money!”

Deborah Brown, executive secretary in the Office of the Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs and Operations Management, explains that last August, as Coca Cola’s seven-year contract was about to expire, the University invited beverage companies to bid on a new contract.

Only rivals Coca Cola and Pepsi put together proposals for a University selection committee.

Brown notes, “The process was drawn out.” The committee and the beverage companies met for several months last fall to discuss the proposals. Committee members included the University attorney, director of athletics, president of Student Government, assistant deans of students from the Broward and Jupiter campuses, the director of the University Center and Brown.

Says Brown, “Coca Cola didn’t offer the University anything better than they did 15 years ago. It was a slight improvement on the contract that they offered in 1996.”

In contrast, she says, “Pepsi had a much larger and diverse product line than Coke. Pepsi offered and said that they would purchase all brand-new equipment for the school.”

The final decision was made Dec. 31 when Pepsi won the “beverage war.” Pepsi then signed a 10-year exclusive contract, says Brown, that gives FAU more money, including a larger percentage of the vending commission.

“Cash that we got of the contract is a guaranteed $200,000 per year for 10 years,” says Brown. The university also will get a small percentage of the money from sales of Pepsi products in the Bookstore, the Cafeteria and the university convenience store.

In connection with the new contract, Pepsi donated 500 cases of products, which will be used for student events on campus. Pepsi also will provide free PowerAde powder for the FAU football team during games.

Brown notes, “Pepsi wants to help the FAU football program grow and expand.”

Students who attend FAU football games this fall in Lockhart Stadium in Fort Laudedale also will be drinking Pepsi products. Soon after the university signed its contract with Pepsi, the stadium signed an exclusive contract, too.

There are currently some 96 soda machines on the Boca Raton campus. The desire of students for more vending machines will be met soon.

The reduced number of machines on the Breezeway is a temporary solution to an electrical problem, explains Brown. There isn’t enough power to keep all the machines there working, she says, so FAU and Pepsi plan to put kiosks with vending machines in them all around campus.

The kiosks will have cages around the front to protect the machines from damage and theft. The kiosks, says Brown, will help reduce the clutter on the Breezeway.

Brown advises that if there are problems with the machines, customers should call 561-297-3964 to report them. She says that if a vending machine “eats” a customer’s money, the customer can get a full refund at the University Center, the University Police Headquarters or the Owl Card Center.

Communication junior O’Connor complains, “A lot of times the machines don’t take your money, says ‘exact change only,’ and the water is sold out. Machines don’t take dollar bills and it’s a pain… I don’t ever have change.”