2008 Woodie Awards
SRU needs to look at shuttle from Butler
Issue date: 1/27/06 Section: Rocket Letters
To the Editor:
A bus service from Butler to SRU would help to alleviate the parking problem, ease the commuter costs for the 1,300 or so Butlerites, provide an incentive for more Butlerites to attend SRU (as opposed to going to Butler County Community College) and show that the SRU administration has made a commitment to cutting down on green-house gasses.
I talked to the president of student council last year about a bus service from one point in Butler to one point at SRU. He quickly took me to see Ms. Kathy George who told the SGA president and me that bus service would not be used by anyone. She said that the PUC regulations and the cost of a feasibility study prevent the service.
However, I wasn't asking outright for the service. I was asking her how to go about seeing if the need exists either through a survey of students, questionnaires, e-mails or whatever means necessary. I even said that I would do the leg work and give the results to her.
Her answer to me: "That's the price you pay for living off campus." Her suggestion to live on campus in order to cut commuter costs is ridiculous because there isn't enough living quarters for commuters in Slippery Rock in addition to other factors like families or jobs.
Since George seemed to be closed minded to discussion I looked for other means for getting a bus service. After getting the runaround for several months from the local bus companies, a politicians' aid referred me to John Paul, director of the Butler Rapid Transit Authority.
Paul told me that he would love to offer a commuter bus from Butler to SRU but he can't without the approval of SRU officials; the same person who would not openly discuss the issue with me.
SRU offers the Happy Bus so that students can travel to drinking establishments (among other destinations) on a bus with a very small number of riders. All students have to pay fees for services like that and other items that they may never use such as: Health services ($104.00), Community Building ($25.00), General service ($128.78), ACAD enhancement ($245.30), in-state technology ($62.50) and for the SGA recreation complex ($87.00). Why not offer a bus service between Butler and SRU? Instead of paying for an expensive feasibility study, advertise the fares, schedules and service and then offer it for a month. During that trial period, make corrections and see if it could be a viable program. If so, offer it. If not, can the idea but let the findings be available for those who would like to see them.
Kathy Smith
Senior
Communication major
A bus service from Butler to SRU would help to alleviate the parking problem, ease the commuter costs for the 1,300 or so Butlerites, provide an incentive for more Butlerites to attend SRU (as opposed to going to Butler County Community College) and show that the SRU administration has made a commitment to cutting down on green-house gasses.
I talked to the president of student council last year about a bus service from one point in Butler to one point at SRU. He quickly took me to see Ms. Kathy George who told the SGA president and me that bus service would not be used by anyone. She said that the PUC regulations and the cost of a feasibility study prevent the service.
However, I wasn't asking outright for the service. I was asking her how to go about seeing if the need exists either through a survey of students, questionnaires, e-mails or whatever means necessary. I even said that I would do the leg work and give the results to her.
Her answer to me: "That's the price you pay for living off campus." Her suggestion to live on campus in order to cut commuter costs is ridiculous because there isn't enough living quarters for commuters in Slippery Rock in addition to other factors like families or jobs.
Since George seemed to be closed minded to discussion I looked for other means for getting a bus service. After getting the runaround for several months from the local bus companies, a politicians' aid referred me to John Paul, director of the Butler Rapid Transit Authority.
Paul told me that he would love to offer a commuter bus from Butler to SRU but he can't without the approval of SRU officials; the same person who would not openly discuss the issue with me.
SRU offers the Happy Bus so that students can travel to drinking establishments (among other destinations) on a bus with a very small number of riders. All students have to pay fees for services like that and other items that they may never use such as: Health services ($104.00), Community Building ($25.00), General service ($128.78), ACAD enhancement ($245.30), in-state technology ($62.50) and for the SGA recreation complex ($87.00). Why not offer a bus service between Butler and SRU? Instead of paying for an expensive feasibility study, advertise the fares, schedules and service and then offer it for a month. During that trial period, make corrections and see if it could be a viable program. If so, offer it. If not, can the idea but let the findings be available for those who would like to see them.
Kathy Smith
Senior
Communication major
