On Oct. 28, confusion arose among the NYU Abu Dhabi student body over recent changes to payment methods in the university convenience store. Students were confused over the fact that electronics are now only payable via Falcon Dirhams – university additive financial support for students’ personal needs.

Dining options at NYUAD consist of meal swipes, flex dirhams, and campus dirhams. While the former two options are reset weekly and exclusive to dining uses, campus dirhams are deposited biweekly and can be used to purchase items from the school’s convenience store. Items available for purchase with Campus Dirhams used to range from food, essential items, room decorations, and electronics.

Falcon dirhams, on the other hand, are administered to students who receive full or almost-full financial aid upon initial acceptance. These allow students to pay for bookstore items, medicine at Al Manara Pharmacy on campus, or flight tickets via travel-agency Nirvana.

The change came as a surprise, and a source of confusion to many students. The Gazelle is waiting for official responses from the NYUAD Student Government’s Executive Board on the reasons behind this change. Meanwhile, according to their official announcement, students are encouraged to voice their concerns at the upcoming Listening Session (Town Hall) on Nov. 17.