By Anna Morgenstern
Collegian Staff Writer

One of the perks of being a college student is being able to get great deals. With prices increasing constantly for everything from movie tickets to amusement parks, getting a discount can be the difference between going or not going.

That̢۪s where the University Student Union comes in.

Fresno State gives students special deals through the USU Information Center. And with summer fast approaching, now may be the best time to take advantage of the perks.

The Information Center provides deals for movie tickets to any Regal Cinemas theater, including Edwards Fresno Stadium Cinemas in River Park. Ticket prices at the Edwards box office are regularly $10 for an evening and $7.50 for a matinee.

But at the Information Center, students can purchase tickets for any movie at any time for only $6.75. The tickets do not have an expiration date.

Julie Bounchareune, a Fresno State student who works at the Information Center, said early last week that she had sold nearly 100 tickets for the “Spiderman 3� debut on May 4 alone.

Spring break and summer vacation also draws a lot of students to amusement park deals, according to Bounchareune.

“We sell a lot of tickets to Magic Mountain before school is over for summer,� she said.

Six Flags Magic Mountain tickets, for example, cost $44.99 at the park but cost only $28 if students buy them on campus. The tickets expire Dec. 31. The nearest Six Flags location is in Valencia.

“We also sell a lot of passes to Sea World around this time,� Bounchareune said.

Sea World tickets cost $63 at the entrance of the San Diego park, but only $45 for a two-day pass purchased at Fresno State.

Not all students are aware of the deals.

Lindsay Kenggott, a third-year student, has never taken advantage of the Information Center deals.

“I wish I would have known about those deals before,� she said.

Kenggott said she would definitely buy the discount movie tickets and maybe even a day pass for Magic Mountain.

“It’s cool that you can buy these tickets and use them any day and any time,� Kenggott said.