By Jaimee Kuperman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Carrying a grilled chicken sandwich,
french fries and a bottle of Pepsi,
mechanical engineering sophomore Adu Yani defends her choice of beverage by stating flatly, "Coke is just too sweet."
Unfortunately for Yani, the University of Arizona received a lower bid from Coca-Cola than Pepsi Cola Ÿ Coca-Cola offered to contract with the university at the lowest cost to the school Ÿ and chose Coke as its new product for the next three years. The bid, which eliminated Pepsi from the campus's soda machines, opened July 1. The Pepsi machines will remain on campus, however, only Coca-Cola products will be available for purchase from them.
In all, the UA is home to 74 soda machines, "with Coke in more machines than Pepsi was in last year; with Coke outselling everything," said Mike Humphreys, manager of Student Union Vending. Humphreys declined to furnish the exact amount of the bids given by Pepsi, Royal Crown Cola and Coca-Cola (which offered their products at the lowest cost).
Advertisements reading "Coke with ice," "Just for the taste of it" and "Ask for a large" are arranged on cups, posters and clocks in the Student Union Building.
Josh Bartholomy, manager of Domino's Pizza in the Union, purchased two neon signs to promote the school's decision.
"People come in just to buy Coke; it has sold more than anything else, just for the popular name," Bartholomy said.
Fiddlee Fig sells 1,500 to 2,000 red and white cups of soda each day, predominantly Coke, said Marian Wisely, supervisor of Fiddlee Fig. Eighty-three percent of students who choose to eat at Louie's Lower Level purchase a Coke with their meals.
"A fifth of their sales comes from soda alone," said Jeanne C., manager of Louie's, who requested anonymity for personal reasons.
Coke is sold in the Student Union in cans, bottles and the fountain, while Pepsi is sold only in bottles. Comparatively, a 32-ounce fountain Coke costs 89 cents while a 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi is sold for 79 cents, Jeanne C. said, adding that students prefer large fountain Cokes over small ones.
Justin Gazard, biochemistry freshman, said he drinks two to three Cokes a day, and that he is satisfied with the university's decision to side with Coke.
"Coke is more refreshing, it tingles as it goes down," said Emily Steele, linguistics sophomore. "I am extremely happy the university has switched to Coke."