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ORU students contribute
to Wal-Mart sales
By Becky Castle
Hey, do you need anything from Wal-Mart? That may be one of the
most commonly asked questions on campus. The Wal-Mart Supercenter,
conveniently located on Lewis Ave. across from ORU, can provide
most of the essentials for student life. ORU students in turn provide
a large percentage of sales for the store.
Allen Harris, a co-manager, quoted Wes Morris, the head manager,
as saying that an estimated 30 percent of total sales is contributed
by ORU students. That percentage consists mostly of food items such
as frozen pizzas and yogurt, things those in college use to stock
their snack stashes.
Harris said there are heavy spikes in business during the two weeks
after students return to ORU each semester, as well as when students
return from shorter breaks.
When I first came here [to ORU] I spent a lot of money [at Wal-Mart]
on things I had forgotten or left at home, freshman Hannah Barton
said. I think that it is wonderful to have Wal-Mart so near to ORU
because not only can you drive there in two minutes, you can also
walk there. Barton buys food, school supplies and many other items
at Wal-Mart, including gas for her car at the Wal-Mart gas station.
ORU students contribute to the store in more ways than just purchases.
ORU students make up eight to ten percent of associates at the store.
Harris said a lot of them are employed on a semester-to-semester
basis. Some, however, take a leave of absence during the summer
and then come back in the fall. Several associates currently working
at the store have been there for three or four years.
The Tulsa Supercenter hosts an ORU appreciation night near the end
of each school year put on by ORU's Public Relations Student Society
of America (PRSSA). Joe Brettell, PRSSA Opportunities Coordinator,
said the society has a good working relationship with Morris.
The appreciation night centers around in-store drawings for various
items. PRSSA purchases these with the $5000 or so dollars Wal-Mart
gives them specifically for this purpose. Last year, Wal-Mart also
provided a giant cake the size of a table and a fountain of punch.
PRSSA President, Selah Davis, said 500-1000 students attended last
year. Brettell said the appreciation night is good PR for both Wal-Mart
and PRSSA.
Wal-Mart gives back further to the students who give the store so
much. The company offers one scholarship for an associate in each
store location and one per city.
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