Stomachs lurched last week when flyers advertising free pitas were handed out around campus.

Several men were seen distributing the ads for a free pita from local Marshall Street business Pita Pit in front of the Schine Student Center and nearby walkways.

But hungry and hopeful students were soon disappointed when they discovered that to receive free food, they had to fill out an application to receive a Citibank credit card.

Though the handouts said nothing about credit cards, what students encountered was a promotion for the Citi mtvU Platinum Select Visa Card, a credit card geared toward college students.

‘It was someone doing something on (university) property, and they were unauthorized,’said Matthew Snyder, director of communications and media relations for the Office of Student Affairs. ‘It was brought to the attention of DPS, they were asked to leave and they did. It didn’t cause any huge problems as far as I know.’

The Department of Public Safety was called Wednesday afternoon to ask the promoters to leave, which they did without argument, Snyder said.

Snyder said SU policy prohibits advertising or marketing credit cards on campus. This policy also bans gift-giving in exchange for credit card applications. Snyder said those handing out flyers on campus were not approved to do so by the school.

The connection between Pita Pit and Citi is arbitrary. Citi chose a popular local business and used the name to attract students.

The Citi representatives who collected students’ information outside of the Pita Pit refused to comment on the campaign.

‘We are not affiliated with the bank,’ said Pita Pit manager Sherry Holmes. ‘We don’t even know what exactly they’re filling out for outside.’

The promotion has been done in the past and there has never been a legal problem, Holmes said. As in past years, Citi came to the local business and asked to use the Pita Pit in their campaign.

According to a flyer handed out at the booth, which was located directly in front of Pita Pit for three days, this card boasts benefits such as ‘points for a good GPA’ and ‘VIP passes to mtvU’s Spring Break.’

Adam Beilman, an undeclared S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications freshman, went through the process both Tuesday and Wednesday this week. He said that students did not fill out actual credit card applications, but they did give information so that applications could be mailed to them.

‘We had to bring our student ID and give them our social security number twice,’ Beilman said. ‘The guy at the booth said they couldn’t process it without our social security number, which seemed kind of weird.’

Some, like Beilman, complied and filled out the requisite information and were then given a blue slip to exchange for a free pita at Pita Pit. For Beilman, giving out his personal information was well worth the time.

‘The pitas were delicious,’ Beilman said.

Others found the information required to be unnecessary.

‘We saw there was a line for signing up for a credit card or something, so we just left,’ said Kyle Gulamerian, a Newhouse freshman.

Citi paid Pita Pit for the number of pitas given out, but other than that, there was no advertising or promotion fee exchanged.

The pita for credit card advertising campaign, besides the flyers being handed out on campus, was not against SU policy. The ‘application for an application’ process skirted around but did not directly violate the rule against gift-giving in exchange for filling out a credit card application.

Published on September 23, 2007 at 12:00 pm