Changes are coming to the Bakersfield College Student Government Association Student Discount Card, according to SGA Vice President Brian Rathfelder.

“We are currently under contract with Student Advantage printing company and it costs us $5,000 to get only 1,000 discount cards just for this semester,” he said. “With that being said, I think we need to find a new printing company that can save the students money.”

Rathfelder wants to cut out the middleman.

“My idea is a hologram sticker to be put on the corner of the card instead of a regular sticker, because not that many people can just copy that from a printer and say that they bought the card and we won’t have to spend the money to go to a printing company.” Rathfelder said.

The current card has discounts to over 30 different locations including La Pizza Veloz, BJ’s 5 star Pizza and Don Roberto’s Jewelers, just to name a few.

The card also has two free football season passes to every home game as well as 5 percent off at the Bakersfield College Bookstore for people who buy it in the fall.

Rathfelder wanted to make some changes to make it fair for the people who buy the spring card.

“Maybe we can talk to the people in charge of the pool or the weight room and get them free access if they buy it in the spring semester.”

All this is offered for $15, Rathfelder said he doesn’t foresee any change in that price when the new cards are implemented.

Another problem with the current card that Rathfelder talked about was the amount of steps it takes to currently get a card.

Students buy the card at the finance office and then take their receipt to the SGA office and then wait to get the card. When the students get the card, they have to activate it online.

Rathfelder also expressed interest in working on getting more vendors from various parts of town so the cards will benefit students from all areas.

“Most of the vendors off campus are near Chester Avenue and on the east side of town,” he said. “Well I live out in the west side and there are hardly any vendors by my house that I can use the card with. I think we need to branch out a little bit.”

While the SGA is currently in talks with companies to produce the new cards, according to Rathfelder, it will be next semester at the earliest before any changes can be expected.