2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial
Late-night bus rides make perfect public safety sense
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
This editorial board would like to thank President Potter and the SCSU students who voted in April to increase their student activity fee by 25 cents.
The money will provide students with a late-night bus service that will drive students between campus and downtown St. Cloud.
It will be at the disposal of SCSU students Thursdays through Saturdays.
The bus is scheduled to begin its services Jan. 17, providing three bus routes.
It will also be open to the public, but the money from SCSU will guarantee the buses will always be running.
St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission said the money taken in from other riders will be credited back to the university, so it is a win-win situation.
Students will be able to ride the buses from about 9 p.m. until between 2 and 2:45 a.m.
Former President Roy Saigo did not think the bus rides would solve the alcohol problems with students, so he rejected the idea.
This board knows it will not solve all problems, but it will provide safety for many SCSU students who use downtown.
It will probably help with the downtown economy that has been lacking during the construction phases.
The weather can get very cold in the winter, as we all know, and if someone decides to go see a show or band downtown, and does or does not drink, it is nice to have a free ride back to campus.
It also helps with the safety of people who walk during the late hours of the night.
There are a lot of reason why this will work, and they definitely outway the negatives.
This board feels this approval is one step forward in public safety for SCSU students. officials and neighborhood residents in discussions about students' behavior and ways to reduce negative incidents.
Other changes that have happened, Potter said, include a new alcohol policy, a stronger approach to off-campus behavior in general and the ongoing process of revising the student code of conduct. The university already has launched a program called UChoose, which is designed to help students reduce high-risk behaviors associated with alcohol use.
Those changes at the university level are happening at a time when the city is tightening up on landlords whose tenants repeatedly violate city ordinances. The St. Cloud City Council on Monday refused to grant a provisional rental license to two landlords whose license was revoked after renters at the residence accumulated four noise violations in a 12-month period.
Saigo also cited procedural deficiencies when he rejected spending the student fees for the bus service. He pointed to the fact that only about 5 percent of the about 16,000 St. Cloud State students voted on the fee increase.
There were 450 votes in favor of the fee, 295 against and 41 with no opinion.
All constituencies involved in the issue have been consulted, Potter said, and "the campus community has agreed to go ahead" with the plan.
The money will provide students with a late-night bus service that will drive students between campus and downtown St. Cloud.
It will be at the disposal of SCSU students Thursdays through Saturdays.
The bus is scheduled to begin its services Jan. 17, providing three bus routes.
It will also be open to the public, but the money from SCSU will guarantee the buses will always be running.
St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission said the money taken in from other riders will be credited back to the university, so it is a win-win situation.
Students will be able to ride the buses from about 9 p.m. until between 2 and 2:45 a.m.
Former President Roy Saigo did not think the bus rides would solve the alcohol problems with students, so he rejected the idea.
This board knows it will not solve all problems, but it will provide safety for many SCSU students who use downtown.
It will probably help with the downtown economy that has been lacking during the construction phases.
The weather can get very cold in the winter, as we all know, and if someone decides to go see a show or band downtown, and does or does not drink, it is nice to have a free ride back to campus.
It also helps with the safety of people who walk during the late hours of the night.
There are a lot of reason why this will work, and they definitely outway the negatives.
This board feels this approval is one step forward in public safety for SCSU students. officials and neighborhood residents in discussions about students' behavior and ways to reduce negative incidents.
Other changes that have happened, Potter said, include a new alcohol policy, a stronger approach to off-campus behavior in general and the ongoing process of revising the student code of conduct. The university already has launched a program called UChoose, which is designed to help students reduce high-risk behaviors associated with alcohol use.
Those changes at the university level are happening at a time when the city is tightening up on landlords whose tenants repeatedly violate city ordinances. The St. Cloud City Council on Monday refused to grant a provisional rental license to two landlords whose license was revoked after renters at the residence accumulated four noise violations in a 12-month period.
Saigo also cited procedural deficiencies when he rejected spending the student fees for the bus service. He pointed to the fact that only about 5 percent of the about 16,000 St. Cloud State students voted on the fee increase.
There were 450 votes in favor of the fee, 295 against and 41 with no opinion.
All constituencies involved in the issue have been consulted, Potter said, and "the campus community has agreed to go ahead" with the plan.