University students may soon be able to buy a popular fast-food sandwich for just the change in their pockets.
LSA sophomore Richard Jancasz, a McDonald's manager, said he is still waiting for official word about whether the company's national headquarters will reduce the price of the Big Mac to 55 cents.
Jancasz learned about the 55-cent Big Mac from yesterday's evening newscasts and his customers at the franchise's South University Avenue restaurant.
"We've had a lot of questions about it," Jancasz said. "I don't know what they're talking about."
Jancasz said local McDonald's franchises have a good deal of autonomy.
"Until we hear it from our supervisor, we don't have to do it," Jancasz said.
However, he did say that if the 55-cent deal materializes, his franchise would probably participate.
"Generally, we follow the nationwide trends, just because it's good for business," Jancasz said.
At the nearby Burger King, assistant manager Jeff Frontiera said he is not alarmed at the prospect of a Big Mac price cut.
"It doesn't bother us," Frontiera said. "We don't even think it will affect us."
Frontiera said that in many ways the Burger King Whopper is a "higher quality product." He said the Burger King burger is superior in its freshness and that it contains 75 percent more meat than its McDonald's counterpart.
University students are divided about which restaurant is better.
Heiko Leopold, a first-year graduate student in the School of Business Administration, said each chain has its specialty. As he sat in Burger King, Leopold said, "The burger is probably better here. But the fries - at McDonald's, the amount of fries is more."
Engineering graduate student Richard Levi held a similar view.
"The fries are better," he said of McDonald's. But as he sat in the McDonald's dining room eating a cheeseburger, he said that he generally prefers Burger King.
"Burger King tastes better than McDonald's. I don't know why I keep coming back here," Levi said.
Overall, students said the price of their fast food is important, but not the definitive factor in their choice.
LSA student Heiko Zuchel said he is unwilling to spend more than $4 for a meal.
"For example," Zuchel said, "the double-cheeseburger meal at Wendy's is more than $4. (That's) too expensive."
Kinesiology sophomore Amy Gerdes agreed with the $4 limit. However, she was not excited about the possibility of a 55-cent Big Mac.
"It doesn't matter. I really don't eat Big Macs," Gerdes said.
Gerdes said she prefers plain cheeseburgers, and if presented with the option of a 55-cent Big Mac, she would "ask for it plain."
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
LSA first-year student Aaron Olmstead bites into a burger yesterday at McDonalds on South University Avenue.