For a college town, Princeton has surprisingly few movie rental options for students.
West Coast Video, the only video store in town, is a long walk down Nassau Street from the center of campus. Because of the distance and prices of rentals, many students depend on sources within the University for movies.
Pflix, a movie rental student agency, used to be a popular source of movie rentals several years ago.
However, Pflix's manager Sebastian Borza '06 said he is in debt and the agency is currently defunct.
He said he tried to reinvigorate Pflix and make the service more efficient this past year.
In September, he put up a tent where students could join Pflix for free. He has since raised membership dues to five dollars to help cover added expenses.
Borza also increased the size of Pflix's collection. "I would go to video stores such as EB Games and Best Buy and buy videos," he said.
Through his efforts, Pflix's inventory includes 300 DVDs, 450 VHS tapes and many video games. The rental price is three dollars for DVDs and two dollars for VHS tapes. Students can rent videos for three days.
The Pflix booth is located in Frist Campus Center next to the large TV. But despite Borza's efforts and this prime location, students have not rented enough videos to keep the agency in existence.
He suspects that the Internet and various file sharing servers have decreased student rental numbers.
"Why go out and rent a movie when you can just download it online?" Clay Dukes '07 said.
Dukes is one of many students aware of online downloading sites such as Morpheus and Ares.
"Without enough customers, I can't afford to pay student workers," Borza said.
Now, he is talking with the student agency's board for assistance. He said he hopes to regroup the agency during winter break and reopen for business next semester.
While Pflix tries to recover, there are other video rental options on campus.
Students can rent videos through the Language Resource Center (LRC) located in East Pyne, which "maintains and circulates the Firestone collection," LRC manager Marianne Crusius said.
Its collection is quite impressive with 3,100 VHS tapes, 870 DVDs, and 200 Laser Disks. About 500 to 600 of these videos are on Reserve for classes each semester, Crusius said.
However, students can check out the remaining videos without charge for a two-day period. Last year, 1,928 videos were checked out, she said.
Over 450 videos have already been checked out this year. Crusius hopes that these numbers will rise. She believes that "word is spreading slowly about the collection."
The LRC is currently open each day of the week, but with limited hours on the weekends.
Crusius has considered extending Sunday hours. "I'd like to do it, but our budget is limiting," she said.
The Joline Game Room is another untapped video rental source on campus.
Located between the first and second entryways in Joline Hall, the game room provides Rockefeller and Mathey college students with a collection of videos. Other residential colleges have video collections as well.
However, students rarely use this privilege.
"I don't even think students know the collection exists," David Czapka '07 said, a student worker in the game room. "Some students don't even know the game room is there."
The LRC is open 9 a.m to 10 p.m Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Friday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
The Joline Game Room is open 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and 12:30 p.m to 12:30 a.m Saturday and Sunday.
Read More
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
Effort to restore chapel’s pews slowly progresses
Ben GoldstonHead carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Head carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Metals, molecules, and medicine: chemical biology’s influence on health and sustainability
Aanya KaseraChemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.
Chemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.