Editors note: In an earlier version of this story, it said only 98 people utilized Scheumann Shuttle. This was only during the debut round, starting at 5 p.m. The story has been updated to reflect the change and The Daily News regrets our error.
In order to give students living off campus a mode of transportation to the games, the Student Government Association introduced the new Scheumann Shuttle at the football opener Sept. 3.
The shuttle was implemented in order to give students who live off campus a mode of transportation to the stadium. The shuttle stopped in neighborhoods around campus, but because the stops were not clearly marked, many students did not realize they could be picked up.
“I had a lot of people come up to me and say, ‘Oh hey, this is cool. We’re totally going to use it,'” SGA Secretary Austin Acel said. “But this is the first time, and you definitely never know what’s going to happen.”
The Scheumann Shuttle's debut round started at 5 p.m. and took close to 35 minutes to complete, and 98 students took advantage of it during this. Most students got on at on-campus stops that are included on Green and Red Loops as well. No one got on at the neighborhood stops. The Fairgrounds stop was popular for freshmen accessing their cars.
Freshman Jared Post said the shuttle was convenient because he didn’t have to walk all the way from the Fairgrounds back to campus, but he wished the wait time in between the shuttles were shorter.
“I pulled in and that one just left right in front of [the stop], so I had to wait another 20-25 minutes for the second one,” Post said. “But, logistically, it doesn’t make sense to run any more than what they have right now."
For weekend games, the shuttle will not stop at the Fairgrounds and will function similar to how the Blue Loop runs in the winter. It will make stops at Neely Avenue, Linden Street, Wayne Street and Riverside Avenue, like it did Sept. 3.
Acel said SGA plans to add signs to the neighborhood stops in order to clearly mark the new stops for students. He said the first game was a good test of what could be improved with the Scheumann Shuttle.
In order to make the Scheumann Shuttle possible, SGA budgeted $1,000 and worked with Shawn Sullivan, the assistant athletic director of marketing and fan engagement, and Sue Weller, director of facilities, business, services and transportation.
Sullivan said Ball State athletics wanted to help eliminate excuses for lack of student attendance. He said he hopes the Scheumann Shuttle provides an easier way for students to get to the game and encourages more students to come.
“I think it’s tenfold,” Sullivan said. “There’s more student attendance, a louder atmosphere and a terrific home-field advantage for the football team.”
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